The UConn track and field team took on the Crimson Tide Invitational this past weekend, going against Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana Raging Cajuns, Kennesaw State, Mississippi State, Indiana State, South Alabama, Troy and Arkansas State. Twenty UConn track and field athletes made it into the top 10 of their event, with 10 of those same athletes making it into the top five. The closest UConn got to a win was second place with Faith Kiplimo in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase and Alex Krause in the men’s hammer throw.
After finishing fourth in heat one, Anna Connors finished 10th in the women’s 400-meter final with a time of 54.89 seconds, and Jessica Starr, who finished fifth in heat two, ended 10th in the women’s 400-meter hurdles final. Faith Kiplimo and Malin Rahm, who finished second and third in the first heat, ended up finishing second and third in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase final while Rachel Mason finished ninth in the women’s pole vault final. And Sinclaire Frayer finished seventh in the women’s shot-put final, Gabriela DeFelice and Emily Alty finished fourth and fifth in the women’s discus throw final, and Natalia Surdej got fifth place in the women’s hammer throw final.
The men did pretty well themselves, with Mekhi Stone finishing 10th in the men’s 400-meter final and Terrel Williams finishing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles final. Alongside those three, Griffin Mandirola placed third in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase final, Kasey Savage placed sixth in the men’s long jump final and seventh in the men’s triple jump final. Kyle Johnson also had a solid day, achieving third in the men’s triple jump final, Alex Krause got second in the men’s hammer throw and Travis Raoux got eighth in the men’s hammer throw as well. Joshua Mooney and Connor Hayford got fifth and sixth in the men’s javelin throw final.
Other athletes to note are Harriett Barber and Raquel Rosa who finished 23rd and 25th during the women’s 400-meter race. Danielle Phillips finished 32nd in the women’s 100-meter final, Claire Paci finished 18th and Allison Mccarthy finished 25th in the women’s 1500-meter final. Noble Gongon finished 25th in the women’s 100-meter. Damon Simpson placed a little better in this event, finishing 16th in the men’s 100-meter final, and Brendan Kovar finished 12th in the men’s 400-meter final.
Overall, it was a fine day for the UConn men’s and women’s track and field teams, and the next meet will be on April 18 for the UConn Northeast Challenge.