After a strong performance at the Dog Fight Challenge in Storrs, Conn., the UConn track and field team is traveling to Durham, N.C., this weekend for the Duke Invitational. The meet is a two-day affair opening Friday that serves as a high-stakes barometer for the outdoor season.
UConn preserved its home territory last weekend, scoring 260.5 points and finishing ahead of second-place Northeastern, who finished with 187.5 points. The emphasis in Durham switches from team points to individual milestones. The invitational is famed for its large, high-major teams, allowing the Huskies a perfect chance to pursue NCAA Regional qualifying scores against ACC opposition.
The Huskies recently experienced a weekend when they established six new program top 10 records, practically rewriting the record books.
On the men’s side, the 4x100m relay team — consisting of Noble Gongon, Damon Simpson, Medwin Odamtten and Nicholas Wright — set the fourth-fastest time in UConn history (40.3).
The women’s team is just as prepared for a breakthrough. Brooklyn Taylor (100m hurdles) and Rachel Mason (pole vault) both scored the fourth-best scores in program history on Saturday. For Mason, the Duke Invitational offers the sort of setting where vertical jumpers frequently flourish, while Taylor will seek to expand on her 13.41-second hurdles result against some of the quickest gates in the East.
Friday’s field events start at 9:30 a.m. with track events beginning at 3:15 p.m., continuing through Saturday afternoon, with field events starting at 11 a.m. and track events starting at 12:10 p.m.