Track and Field Squads Battle Cold Conditions at AIC Yellow Jacket Invitational
Purple Knights compete for the second time in the outdoor season.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Competing for the second time this outdoor season, the University of Bridgeport's men's and women's track and field teams braved the cold conditions at the AIC Yellow Jacket Invitational on Saturday. UB was one of 15 institutions to take part in the meet held at the John G. Hoyt '52 Track & Field Complex in Springfield, Mass.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Competing across a full slate of events, the Purple Knights delivered a series of solid performances highlighted by a runner-up finish and a school-record effort.
Stephanie Lickteig posted one of the top showings of the meet, placing second in the 5000m with an outdoor personal-record time of 20:07.31.
In the field events, Faith Hershberger matched her own school record in the pole vault, clearing 2.45m to finish fourth overall.
Emma Pastorelli also earned a top-five finish, placing fourth in the javelin with a throw of 25.92m, while adding a 25th-place showing in the shot put at 7.77m.
On the track, Julia Fortune led the Purple Knights in the distance events with a 10th-place finish in the 1500m (5:34.64).
Suweba Jawula turned in a strong effort in the 400m, placing 12th with a time of 1:09.01.
Monsio Davies contributed in multiple events, finishing 12th in the 100m (14.02) while also taking 10th in the long jump with a mark of 4.35m.
MEN'S RECAP
UB's men also turned in a strong all-around performance, highlighted by a victory on the track and multiple personal-best efforts.
Toby Middleton led the way with a first-place finish in the 1500m, crossing the line in 4:13.95. Kamal Abdul-Aziz also delivered a standout sprint performance, placing second in the 100m with a time of 11.11, while Jackson Sanders recorded a personal record in the same event at 11.95.
In other sprinting action, Edoardo Vandelli impressed with a fourth-place finish in the 400m, clocking a personal-record time of 52.19—an improvement of a full second.
Alex Sanchez also produced one of the most notable performances of the day in the 400-hurdles, posting a personal-best time of 59.07 that also established a new school record.
Sanchez contributed in the javelin as well, placing 19th with a throw of 31.25 meters.
Darreyle Simpson added to the hurdles group with a 10th-place finish in the 110-hurdles (19.56).
In the field events, Jeremy Choi led the way with a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw at 39.26 meters.
Lucas Reinhardt recorded a collegiate personal record in the discus with a toss of 35.87 meters to place 12th while also finishing 16th in the shot put at 10.81 meters.
UP NEXT
The Purple Knights will compete at SCSU's Wilton Wright Invitational next Friday (April 10).