By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo hosted the Falcon Classic March 24-25 at the university’s track and field facility.

About 800 athletes from around the country and their coaches came to Montevallo to compete in the track and field event.

“It has doubled in size this year, we’re very excited about it,” UM track and field assistant head coach Julia Marquardt said. “This is a good way to kick off their spring break … A lot of teams are just kicking off their outdoor season, starting to hit their stride and want to get good marks early and that’s why they come down from the north because it’s nice and warm down here.”

Marquardt said the event draws people from as far as Ohio to the campus and could open opportunities for UM student athletes to arrange matchups against other schools or visit other campuses to use their facilities.

“It is going to be a good little fundraiser,” Marquardt said. “But it’s a great thing, I think, for this area. There’s tons of schools here … bringing a lot of people to this area for this weekend. I think it’s a good thing for the economics of Montevallo and for Shelby County.”

According to Steve Gilbert, Montevallo Chamber of Commerce executive director, the event brings an increase in sales tax and lodging tax revenue to the city. Gilbert wrote that restaurants benefit the most from the event, followed by local shops and convenience marts.

This is the university’s second year hosting the Falcon Classic. There was a fee for the teams to compete, but the event was free to attend for the public.

UM Sophomore Hunter Chavarry finished runner-up in the women’s heptathlon. Chavarry claimed the individual title in three separate events in the women’s heptathlon, including the 100-meter hurdles with a program-record time of 14.27 seconds.

Chavarry’s time of 14.27 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles surpassed the NCAA Division II National Championship provisional mark and is currently the 10th fastest time nationally this season, according to a UM report.

For more results for UM athletes, visit montevallofalcons.com.