University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
USF Alumni Invitational
3/16/2024 7:59:00 PM | Track & Field
TAMPA, FL – The Pitt track and field program completed their first outdoor competition of the season, winning two events at the USF Track and Field Stadium during the USF Alumni Invitational meet.
FRIDAY RECAP
Ilse Steigenga claimed the first win of the outdoor season for the Panthers, placing first in the women's long jump with a mark of 6.25m. Steigenga leaped 6.14m on her first event of the afternoon, which would've secured first, but jumped 6.25m on her final attempt to create distance between first and second place.
Foluke Olujide-Ajibade, Niya Crawford, and Lanie Bainter represented the throws group well in the women's hammer throw. Olujide-Ajibade finished in third place with a throw of 58.55m, Crawford placed ninth throwing for 50.14m, and Bainter took 11th, recording a PR of 49.92m. With that mark, the senior moves into 10th all time in program history, behind Olujide-Ajibade in second and Crawford in ninth.
Five female Panthers excelled in the women's 400m hurdles. Logan Neely (1:00.20) took fourth, Jazmyn Potts (1:02.84) followed in 12th, Mackenzie Sullivan (1:03.46), Aubrey Leneweaver (1:03.52) and Jana Bruses (1:04.60) trailed consecutively in 14th, 15th and 16th. Bruses was the only Panther to post a new PR.
Devin Nugent seized the second Panther victory of the day, winning the men's 400m hurdles in 51.09. Nugent was just shy of his 51.07 second personal record which he ran last season. The sophomore currently holds the fourth best time in program history.
Graduate student Clement Campbell fell short of first in the men's long jump, placing second with a mark of 7.49m. Campbell was the top collegiate in the meet, as first place finisher Christian Davis (7.61m) competed unattached.
Freshman Somiyah Braggs starred in her outdoor debut, finishing in tenth place in the 200m, crossing the line in 23.98. Caleia Johnson finished in 21st place, with a pace of 24.40. Success Duruzor ran a new best of 24.65 for a 31st finish. Alma Evuna Eki also ran a new personal best, 25.12.
On the men's side of the 200m dash, Nigel Hussey notched eighth place with a speed of 21.09. The junior from Georgia looks to improve upon his top time from last year of 20.85, which is good for fourth in program history. Malik Ricketts added himself to the program record books with his time of 21.23 this weekend. He finished 11th at the meet and is now ninth in Pitt history. Freshman Thomas McDonough ran through the line in 21.36, for 16th place.
Senior Taylor Newton ended the first day of competition with a huge PR of 39.99m in the women's javelin throw. The St. Mary's, Pa. native finished in fourth place.
SATURDAY RECAP
Ilse Steigenga continued her success on Saturday, where she finished fifth in the women's triple jump with a leap of 12.24m. Taylor Forbes tied for tenth in the event with a mark of 11.68m. On the men's side of the triple jump, sophomore Uri Arnon placed sixth, recording a mark of 13.80m.
The Pitt women took to the track for the first track event of the day, the 4x100 relay. The quartet of Somiyah Braggs, Ilse Steigenga, Logan Neely and Caleia Johnson inserted themselves into ninth in the program record books with a time of 45.36. The men's 4x100 relay team Nigel Hussey, Clement Campbell, Darren McQueen Jr., and Stephon Brown also ran an all-time program best time, crossing the finish line in 40.27, which is fourth best.
A trio of women's high jumpers placed in the top five and all recorded a mark of 1.70m. Sophomore Alesia Rengle finished tied for second as she was able to clear the mark on her first attempt. Eva Baldursdottir took fourth, clearing the bar on her second jump. Lydia Bottelier followed in fifth, hitting the height on her third and final attempt. All three Panthers were unsuccessful at 1.75m.
Sydney Nowicki and Reagan Flannery finished tenth and twelfth, respectively, in the women's 1500m race. Nowicki posted a time of 4:28.33, which inserts the Lockport, N.Y. native into ninth in program history. Flannery ran a new personal best, 4:32.58.
Pitt was well represented in the men's 1500m, with five Panthers finishing in the top ten. Luke Simpson (3rd, 3:47.35), Jack Miller (4th, 3:47.51), Finn Walsh (6th, 3:48.24), Luke Miller (7th, 3:50.66) and Ethan Fingerhut (10th, 3:52.13) all ran well with everyone except Walsh recording a new best.
Senior Folake Olujide-Ajibade improved upon the 5th best program time that she previously held with her new best of 13.72 in the women's 100m hurdles. The Dublin, Ohio native notched eighth place in the meet.
Senior Raymond Oriakhi also recorded a new best time, running 14.19 in the men's 110m hurdles. He grabbed seventh place out of 24 competitors.
Pitt had two Panthers earn all-time top ten program marks in the men's 100m dash. Stephon Brown and Clement Campbell ran new personal bests, 10.39 and 10.49. Brown, who was previously sixth in program history, is now tied for second with his time. Campbell inserted himself into seventh all-time with his performance. Success Duruzor was the top Panther in the women's 100m dash. Duruzor grabbed 14th place in 11.90.
Sophomore Niya Crawford achieved a new best in the discus throw of 43.48m. With this mark, the Upper Marlboro, Md. native moves up one spot from tenth to ninth in program history.
Lastly, the men's 4x400 relay saw Pitt take second and record the seventh best effort in program history. Malik Ricketts, Thomas McDonough, Nigel Hussey and Devin Nugent collectively ran for a time of 3:07.25 to bring the meet to a close.
