School records, impressive performances and personal bests were the theme for the Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams on Friday and Saturday. YSU was in action at the Tyson Invitational hosted by Arkansas and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston U the past two days. On Saturday, the Penguins were represented at the SPIRE Collegiate Open Invitational.
Tyson Invitational Highlights
YSU had program-record performances by three individuals at the two-day Tyson Invitational hosted by Arkansas.
On Friday, Jahniya Bowers blazed a time of 7.25 seconds to tie the school record and her personal-best time in the event. She placed an impressive third in the event behind Florida's Talitha Diggs and LSU's Favour Ofili who each ran 7.15 seconds.
On Saturday, Dorian Chaigneau and Wyatt Lefker shined brightest in the pole vault. Both Lefker and Chaigneau cleared 5.52m to eclipse the school record. It was the second time this year that both vaulters had set a new school standard. In a strong field, Chaigneau was fourth and Lefker claimed fifth.
Winning for the Penguins was long jumper Tye Hunt. In the men's long jump, he took first with a mark of 7.54m to edge out Houston's Benjamin Okafor who had a best jump of 7.49m.
In the women's field events, Nia Williams-Matthews was eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.06m while Erin Bogard was 10th in the Pole Vault Invitational with a height of 3.98m
Other top performances for the men included Luke Laubacher was 10th in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.10 seconds, Jakari Lomax who was 11th with a leap of 15.18m and Zach Gray was 11th in the shot put with a toss of 16.32m.
David Hemery Valentine Invitational Highlights
Boston, Mass. - The YSU women had a strong on-track performance on Friday and the men continued the trend today at the Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston Univ.
The women had four personal-best efforts on Friday led by Morgan Cole's time of 9:38.06 in the 3,000m. Cole's time was the second-best in program history in the event. Also in the 3,000m, Ashleigh Rowley had a personal-best time of 10:11.59. Carly Hall added a top time of 5:00.03 in the mile while Malena Cybek posted a best mark of 2:16.81.
The men had three program top-seven marks in the mile.
Hunter Christopher, who had already set the school record in the 3,000m and 5,000m this season, put forth a personal-best effort time of 4:06.06 which ranks him third in program history. Ty Coon ran a personal-best time of 4:11.37 to remain in fifth all-time while Ryan Meadows ran the seventh-fastest time for YSU at 4:11.94. Tobias Jones and Keegan Barnette each clocked exact personal-best efforts of 4:15.64.
In the 3,000m, Tyler Clark had a personal-best time of 8:14.22 which is fifth best in program history. Chase Easterling had a personal-best time of 8:15.83, which is sixth best in program history. Ending the night was Thomas Caputo running a personal-best 8:21.49, the seventh-best time at YSU.
SPIRE Collegiate Open Highlights
Geneva, Ohio - At the SPIRE Institute, YSU got off to a fast start on the day as Molly Hopple placed first in the women's 3,000m Unseeded race with a time of 10:29.48. Hopple ended up with the 14th fastest time on the day and recorded a personal-best time in the process.
In the shortest women's race of the day, Nia Grose placed third in the 60m dash with a time of 7.69 seconds. YSU took two of the top five places in the 200m as Logan Franczkowski was fourth with a time of 25.43 seconds while Grose was just behind at 25.45 seconds.
In the 5,000m run, Mackenzie Scott was second with a personal-best time of 17:42.86 while Ashley Ventimiliga was fifth at 18:20.07 and Maria Dellimuti was 10th at 19:13.09. Scott's time was the eight-fastest time in program history in the 5K.
In the 60m hurdles, Teddi Kinsey posted a third-place time of 8.98 seconds. Liana Rodriguez had a solid fifth-place finish in the 400m run with a time of 57.95 seconds.
In the pole vault, Melana Schumaker was fourth clearing a height of 3.65m while Emma Etzwiler also cleared the bar at the same height to place fifth and Gabbi Selman was sixth at 3.55m.
In the long jump, Stephanie Simon earned a third-place finish with a leap of 5.44m.
On the men's side, Ryan Laird had the top individual finish earning a runner-up position in the 400m with a time of 48.83 seconds.
Harry Barton finished fourth in the 200m with a time of 21. 96 seconds. Luke Baun had a fifth-place nod in the 5,000m with a time of 15:05.54. Jalen Ghee was 12th in the 60m dash with a time of 7.07 seconds.
In the high jump, Nathan Leskovac placed third clearing a height of 2.01m while Mason Stephens was sixth at 1.95m. Austin Clay added an eighth-place performance in the weight throw with a best toss of 15.29m.
The Penguins return to action in two weeks in Fort Wayne, Ind., at the 2023 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships.
