The Youngstown State track and field program concluded its two-meet weekend slate Saturday, accumulating 12 event victories across the two-day YSU Mid-Major Invitational at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
YSU earned event victories following the individual performances of Madison Murry (60m hurdles), Lauren Dolak (800m), Nicole Squatrito (mile), Morgan Cole (5000m), Terron Taylor (high jump), Victoria Lanese (high jump), Samuel Challis (long jump/triple jump), Nia Williams Matthews (triple jump), Dominic Perry (weight throw/shot put), Molly Radcliffe (shot put).
Rod McCravy Memorial Meet
Stepping into lane six in the men's 60m dash final, Anthony Woods got off the blocks and clocked a time of 6.64 to earn the runner-up finish in the event. Woods owned the second-fastest semi-final performance earlier in the day, clocking a time of 6.66. Prior to Friday's initial preliminary heats, 40 competitors were entered into the event; Woods was faster than 38.
Qualifying for Saturday's event final with a semi-final time 7.43, Jahniya Bowers logged an eighth-place finish in the women's 60m dash with a time of 7.46. Bowers' ousted 46 other entries during the three-round event.
Sean Peterson clocked a personal-best time of 1:50.68 in the men's 800m run, earning him the runner-up nod in the event ahead of 14 other entries. Peterson's time comes in as the second-fastest posted in school history.
YSU Mid-Major Invitational Running Event Highlights
Running a personal-best time of 4:56.33, Nicole Squatrito set a new YSU Mid-Major Invitational meet record in the women's mile run. Squatrito's time is also good for the second-quickest mark in program history. Just behind, teammate Natalie Fleming logged a fourth-place finish in the event with a time of 5:08.78.
In the men's event, Ethan Sparks (4:17.26) acted as the Penguins best finisher in the event with a third-place finish.
Tallying back-to-back event victories in the event, Madison Murry paced the women's 60m hurdles with a time of 8.75. Murry's time also sets a new WATTS record, uplifting the 8.84 mark set during the 2016 season. Behind Murry, Teddi Kinsey posted a 8.88 to finish third.
Later in the afternoon, Murry would tally her second top-2 finish of the meet with a runner-up effort in the women's 200m dash with a time of 25.41. Right after, Kyndia Matlock ran a 25.61 to finish third. With their performances, the two speedsters would come across ahead of 83 competitors.
In an event field comprised of 66 runners, YSU clocked the top two marks in the women's 800m and was led by Lauren Dolak with a time of 2:19.61. Just behind, Aiamyia Dudley turned in time of 2:20.25 to earn the silver.
YSU Mid-Major Invitational Field Event Highlights
Picking up her fourth-consecutive event win in as many meets on the 2021-22 indoor season, first-year Penguin Victoria Lanese, once again, tops the women's high jump competition after clearing a 1.72m (5' 7¾") bar on her second attempt at the height. Emily Bee also added a top-5 finish in the event, getting the fourth-place nod with a 1.59m (5' 2½") jump.
In the men's event, Terron Taylor tallied his first event victory of the 2021-22 indoor season after clearing a 2.03m (6' 8") bar in the men's high jump. Continuing his impressive debut season as a Penguin, Mason Stephens tabbed the third-place finish with a 1.95m (6' 4¾") jump.
Capturing his second event victory in as many days, Samuel Challis logged a personal-best mark of 14.28m (46' 10¼") in the triple jump. Challis' leap is good for seventh-furthest in program history. In the women's event, Nia Williams-Matthews posted a personal-best leap of 11.88m (38' 11¾") on her first attempt of the event and completes the event sweep for YSU. Williams-Matthews' mark sits fifth-best in program history.
Led by Dominic Perry's second event victory in two days, YSU swept the top three spots in the men's shot put competition. Perry posted a 17.47m (57' 3¾") throw en route the event win and was followed by a pair of personal-best marks by Brock Grundy (16.96m) and Zach Gray (16.59m) who finished second and third, respectively.
In the women's event, Molly Radcliffe tallies her career event victory in the shot put with a personal-best 14.28m (46' 10¼") throw. Radcliffe's mark is sixth-furthest in YSU history.
The Penguins tallied a pair of top-3 finishes in the men's pole vault and were led by Wyatt Lefker who place second after clearing 5.11m (16' 9¼"). First-year Elijah Nelson nabbed a third-place finish, clearing 4.81m (15' 9¼").
Up Next
YSU is scheduled to return to action next weekend at a pair of weekend meets. The Penguins will kick-off their weekend slate at the Grand Valley State Snowdown Showdown and Akron Invitational of Friday, Feb. 4.
