Pitt
Virginia Challenge
Foluke Olujide-Ajibade Breaks Hammer Throw School Record at Virginia Challenge
4/20/2024 7:59:00 PM | Track & Field
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior Foluke Olujide-Ajibade broke the women's hammer throw school record on Saturday morning, throwing for 62.68 meters en route to first place in the event at the Virginia Challenge.
Olujide-Ajibade smashed Andin Fosam's 61.67-meter school record by more than a meter in her sixth and final attempt of the day. Fosam's record had stood since 2017.
FRIDAY RECAP
The Virginia Challenge got off to a quick start in the women's 100-meter preliminary round, with freshman Somiyah Braggs advancing to the final round with her qualifying time of 11.81 seconds. After finishing third in the prelims, Braggs finished in third once again in the finals, shortening her time to 11.77.
Two Panthers advanced to the final round on the men's side, Nigel Hussey and Darren McQueen Jr. Hussey finished fifth in 10.58 and McQueen Jr. took sixth in 10.59, as the top eight moved on. McQueen Jr. rose to the occasion, recording a new personal best of 10.35 to secure silver. Hussey improved on his time as well, crossing the line in 10.46 for fifth place.
The Panthers recorded two new personal bests in the women's triple jump. Taylor Forbes notched a mark of 11.94-meters and Ilse Steigenga collected fourth place by leaping 12.53-meters.
Junior Caleia Johnson took the first event title of the meet, winning the women's 400-meter race with her pace of 54.29. Johnson recorded a new personal best time in the process.
In the men's 400-meter race, three Panthers found themselves in the top ten. Thomas McDonough was the first finisher for Pitt, with a personal best of 47.64. Devin Nugent received eighth place with his time of 48.19 and Malik Ricketts sped to tenth in 48.29.
Sophomore Claire Hoffman competed in the women's 800-meter invite where she sped to a season's best time of 2:12.58. Junior Peyton Geehrer ended the night in the men's 10000-meter, where he took 13th place in 30:19.26.
SATURDAY RECAP
Foluke Olujide-Abjiade started the second day of the competition on a high note with her school record setting event title. Senior Lanie Bainter also found success in the hammer throw, recording a new personal best of 51.84-meters.
Ardonntrell Williams continued the success to the track as he won the men's 110-meter hurdles, recording the tenth best program time, 13.95, in the process. Raymond Oriakhi placed fourth with a personal best of 14.04.
Both the men's and the women's 4x100 relay teams took silver. Darren McQueen Jr., Nigel Hussey, Clement Campbell and Stephon Brown collectively ran 40.11, the third best time in program history. The women's quartet of Success Duruzor, Somiyah Braggs, Caleia Johnson and Ilse Steigenga strung together an effort of 45.62.
Clement Campbell represented the Panthers well in the field events also. The Trinidad and Tobago native achieved a second-place finish in the men's long jump, leaping 7.48-meters. Ilse Steigenga brought home the women's long jump title with her jump of 6.43-meters for the fourth and final event win of the weekend.
Both Logan Neely and Devin Nugent earned bronze in the 400-meter hurdles. Neely stopped the clock in 1:00.73 whereas Nugent's pace was 50.95.
Somiyah Braggs earned her second individual third place finish of the weekend in the women's 200-meter dash. After finishing in third in the 100-meter dash on Friday, Braggs finished in third, this time in the 200-meter, running at a clip of 23.67. There were three Panthers who equaled or improved on their personal record in the event. Sydney McCallum tied her personal record of 24.38, Alma Evuna Eki recorded a new best of 24.81 and Folake Olujide-Ajibade also recorded a new best, 25.00.
The men's sprinters were moving, with four finishing in the top 13. Nigel Hussey tied his personal record of 20.85 and received fifth place. Darren McQueen Jr. collected eighth with a season's best 20.99 and Thomas McDonough was right behind him for ninth place in 21.03. Malik Ricketts finished 13th in 21.27.
Both Eva Baldursdottir and Alesia Rengle recorded a mark of 1.72-meters in the women's high jump invite. It was a season's best jump for Baldursdottir who earned fourth place overall.
Freshman Norrah Lemongo tied her personal best in the shot put, 15.68-meters, which earned second place to close the meet.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will stay in Pennsylvania for the historic Penn Relays in Philadelphia from April 25-27.
Players Mentioned
