By Samuel T.O. Branch, Athletic Communications Post-Graduate Assistant

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - UNCW and East Carolina will put aside their rivalry this weekend to team up against Appalachian State and Western Carolina in the fourth annual Beaches vs. Mountains Track & Field Meet set for Saturday at the Greene Track & Field Complex.

UNCW's thinclads have enjoyed success in the yearly event, collecting 17 event wins over the three previous competitions, including a nine-win performance in the inaugural 2009 meet.

Senior standout Wil Zahorodny will look to defend his title in the men's 1,500 meters after capturing first the last two years with times of 3:54.60 and 3:54.62.

Sophomore Meena Reid and senior Bob Vanderham  will defend their crowns. Reid claimed the women's 100 meters last year with a time of 12.09 seconds, while Vanderham took home the men's 800 meters, clocking a 1:50.88. 

The Mountain institutions have tallied a 3-0 record against their Beach counterparts in the meet's brief history, and stands 1-0 when UNCW is hosting the competition.

The meet is set to get under way at 9 a.m. with the field events, beginning with the women's hammer throw and continuing throughout the day before wrapping up with the men's shot put and the women's discus at 3:30 p.m.

The running events kick off at 12:30 p.m. with the women's 4x100 relay and progress to the day's final event, the men's 4x400 relay, at 4:30 p.m.

There is no admission to the scored meet. Fans are asked to bring gently used phones, chargers and phone cards to donate for "Cell Phones For Soldiers," a project being conducted by the Leadership 411 class at UNCW.