Wildcats Open Home Meet with several top finishes

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Track and Field wrapped up its first home meet of the season, the Willie Williams Classic, at Drachman Stadium on Friday. The day was full of top finishes for the Wildcats, including first-place finishes from Tabenisa Havea, Youssef Koudssiand Neysia Howard.

FIELD HIGHLIGHTS

In the first event of the day, the men’s hammer throw Jordan Geist finished second with a jump of 71.92 m (235-11). The mark is the second-best in the NCAA behind the nation-leading mark Geist posted last weekend in the Bahamas. In addition, open david finished third in the women’s hammer throw overall with a throw of 57.87 m (189-10). His final throw of the event was his best and put him in the top three.

The Wildcats had a dominant day in the women’s shot put. Freshman Tabenisa Havea A PR throw of 16.15 meters (53-0) wins the event. He was followed Mackenna Orie. who finished second in the overall competition with a value of 16.01 m (52-6.5), and Lauryn’s Lovewho finished fourth with a throw of 14.88 m (48-10).

In the final event of the day, the men’s discus, the Wildcats finished on top Youssef Koudssi won the competition and Zach Lando third place. Koudss’ best throw was a personal best of 56.88m (186-7) and Landa’s best was also a personal best of 54.53m (178-11).

Reinaldo Rodrigues finished second in the men’s long jump with a jump of 7.68 meters (25-2.5). Sir Jonathan Sims also placed sixth in his first collegiate outdoor long jump competition. In the women’s long jump, freshman Taylen Wise was the Wildcats’ best, placing fourth overall with a jump of 5.76 meters (18-10.75).

Jared O’Riley finished second overall in the men’s javelin with a throw of 67.53 m (221-6). He was barely separated by only 0.03 meters from the first place competitor. In the women’s javelin, Erin Thank you finished fourth in the overall competition with a throw of 44.58 m (146-3). Makenzie Dilworth also broke his personal best in the event by more than three meters and finished seventh in his first meet of the year.

Men’s high jump, freshman Kristjan Sigfinnsson tied for second place after clearing 2.05 meters (6-8.75).

STRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Neysia Howard was the first Wildcat to run on the day and he did not disappoint. Howard won the women’s 200 meters in 23.45, which was 0.02 seconds off her personal best. In addition, Lauryn Ford achieved a new personal record time of 24:53. Antonia Sanchez Nunez also ran a PR time.

In the men’s 200m race Trayvion White-Austin finished fifth in the overall competition with a time of 21.27. James Onanubosi also finished eighth with a time of 21:46. In addition, Brian Limage ran a personal best time in the event.

Sailor Hutton was the Wildcats’ top finisher in the women’s 1500m, placing seventh overall in 4:33.24. Men’s 1500m, freshman Logan Mark finished fifth in 3:54.81 in his first race of the track and field season.

Maggie Karp ran a huge personal best time of 17:19.45 in the women’s 5000m to finish third overall. In the men’s 5000m run, Ian Sanchez finished fourth overall and Noah Jodon placed fifth. In addition, Jeffrey Sillers achieved a huge personal best time in the event, shaving over 30 seconds off the previous best.

The Willie Williams Classic continues tomorrow with events at 8:00 a.m. MST. The first college field event is the men’s pole vault, which begins at 10:00 a.m. MST, and the first college track event is the women’s 4×100 meter relay, which begins at 11:05 a.m. MST. Live results of all competitions can be found here.

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