Pitt
Hokie Invitational
Panthers Collect Two Event Titles, Six Program Marks at Hokie Invitational
1/20/2024 6:51:00 PM | Track & Field
Blacksburg, VA – The Pitt track and field team put forth a strong showing at the Hokie Invitational this weekend with two event titles and six all-time top-10 program marks.
FRIDAY RECAP
The Hokie Invitational began with the women's mile, in which all four Pitt runners competing in the race; Reagan Flannery (4:54.10), Claire Hoffman (5:09.65), Sarah Hurst (5:14.23), and Sydney Urbine (5:15.19) recorded new personal bests.
Folake Olujide-Ajibade and Jana Bruses qualified for the 60m hurdles final by running an 8.58 and 8.89, respectively in the preliminary round. The duo went on to finish fifth and sixth in the finals, with Olujide-Ajibade running 8.68 and Bruses racing to an 8.76 personal best.
Ardonntrell Williams had a strong showing in the men's 60m hurdles final, securing a second-place finish with a personal best 7.87 time. This time currently stands as the seventh best in Pitt history.
Freshman standout Somiyah Braggs recorded a top ten time of her own as the meet transitioned to the women's 60m final. Her new personal best moved her from fourth in Pitt history to second, as she crossed the line in a quick 7.40 seconds.
Darren McQueen Jr. moved himself up in the Pitt records books with his 6.76 60m personal best, which earned him fourth at the meet and fourth in Pitt history.
The top ten times didn't stop with the short sprints, as Mackenzie Sullivan got in on the action in the 600m. Sullivan ran a new personal best 1:32.47, moving into fourth all time and fourth at the meet. Shynae Deas finished ninth, crossing the finish line in 1:35.63.
Sophomore Ethan Fingerhut and freshman Ethan Papa ran for personal bests in the men's 3000m. Fingerhut finished seventh overall, winning his heat in 8:25.11.
The Panthers took a pair of third place finishes in the women's and men's 300m. On the women's side, Success Duruzor finished the race in 39.08. For the men, Malik Ricketts recorded a 34.20 time.
In the field events, two Panthers finished in the top five in the women's weight throw. Foluke Olujide-Ajibade claimed second in the event, throwing for 21.02m, while Niya Crawford secured fifth place with a throw of 18.25m, which is good for sixth all-time and also a new personal best. Senior Lanie Bainter also recorded a new personal best of 17.17m. It was her first time surpassing the 17 meter mark in the event.
With a mark of 17.94m, Daniel Amaya took seventh place in the men's weight throw. In the women's long jump, graduate student Lydia Bottelier leaped 5.76m for sixth place, while freshman Aubrey Leneweaver (5.43m) and senior Taylor Newton (5.31m) each notched new personal bests in the event.
SATURDAY RECAP
In Saturday's track events, Logan Neely and Aubrey Leneweaver began the day by finishing third and eighth, respectively in the women's 400m. Neely secured the bronze in 56.19 and Leneweaver ran 57.66 in her first 400m race of her young career.
The first event win of the weekend came by way of Olivia Bufalini in the 800m. In the first 800m race of her collegiate career, the Wilmington, North Carolina native recorded a 2:11.43 best, beating out the second-place finisher from North Carolina A&T by nearly five tenths of a second. Sophomore Claire Hoffman took sixth place in 2:14.15.
Freshman Norrah Lemongo threw for 14.97m in the shot put to take sixth place. This score moved Lemongo into fourth in Pitt history. The Yaonde, Cameroon native has recorded new personal bests in the shot put in each of the three meets thus far.
A pair of Panthers tied for third place in the women's high jump. Eva Baldursdottir and Alesia Rengle both cleared the 1.70m mark on their first attempt. Graduate student Lydia Bottelier also jumped for 1.70m, however it took her two attempts. All three Panthers missed on the 1.75m mark.
The Panthers saved their best for last. In the final event of the weekend, the relay quartet of Success Duruzor, Logan Neely, Mackenzie Sullivan, and Lydia Bottelier took the 4x400m title in 3:42.18. It was a season best for the group.
NEXT UP
The Panthers hit the road to compete in the PSU National Open on Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27.
Players Mentioned
