UNC Asheville Bulldogs set three indoor school records at Tryon

UNC Asheville opened its 2026 indoor season on Jan. 10 at Tryon International with a statement performance: Bulldogs athletes broke three school records at the season opener, underlining a fast start for the program and offering a boost to local supporters.

The highlights came from Nkosi Jeju, who improved the men's long jump school mark to 7.40 meters, and from two freshmen who set records in their collegiate debuts. Kelechi Anyanwu ran a new men's 300-meter record in 34.29 seconds, and Bennett Moreno posted a new men's 600-meter mark of 1:22.08. All three records came at an early-stage meet on Tryon's new indoor surface, which provided athletes a fresh competitive venue for early-season times and marks.

Those statistical gains matter beyond individual glory. Jeju's 7.40m jump establishes a benchmark for Bulldog field events and signals competitiveness at the regional level, while Anyanwu and Moreno setting records in their first collegiate races suggests immediate depth in the sprint and mid-distance corps. For coaches and recruiters, such early-season evidence of output can validate training approaches and improve recruiting leverage for Buncombe County's NCAA program.

The new indoor track at Tryon International also carries local significance. A modern facility concentrated in the region gives UNC Asheville more nearby opportunities to compete without long travel, which can reduce logistical costs and student-athlete strain over a long season. Local businesses stand to gain when meets draw visiting teams and families, and early-season performances like these help generate interest that can translate into ticket sales and weekend economic activity in Asheville and surrounding towns.

Beyond the top marks, Bulldogs rounded out the meet with other strong finishes that kept the team competitive through multiple events, a pattern coaches will look to sustain as the indoor schedule progresses. Breaking three school records at an opener is a statistical outlier that suggests both current talent and a potentially stronger season curve than recent years.

The takeaway? Buncombe County fans should expect a more compelling indoor track season from the Bulldogs and consider heading to future meets to support the program. Our two cents? Celebrate the records, keep an eye on this freshman class, and enjoy the boost this brings to local athletics and the community scene.