TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati track and field program concluded its time at the Raleigh Relays on the NC State campus Saturday with several relay squads finding great success as the women recorded three all-time Top 10 marks, including a pair of school records, while the men added one Top 10 mark of their own. Overall, the Bearcats finished the two-day event with two school records and seven other marks on the all-time Top 10 ledgers.
// WINNER'S CIRCLE
The Bearcats recorded one event victory on the day as the team of Kellsa Mbah, Haisha Bisiolu, Bryana Robinson and Tiona Lattimore combined to run 45.20 to win the 4x100m relay. That time, which was more than one-half of one second (0.60) better than runner-up James Madison, gave the quartet the sixth-fastest time in program history. In fact, that mark stands as the fourth all-time Top 10 mark recorded in the event in the past two seasons (2016 and 2017) with all four ranking in the all-time Top 5.
// TOP OF THE CHARTS
While the 4x100m relay picked up the win, the 4x200m team of Bisiolu, Lattimore, Juliana Puopolo and Aliya Barnes combined to break a school record as the quartet ran 1:38.15 for the top time in UC history. The run marked the first time UC has fielded a relay in the event since the 2005 season (12 years) and broke the previous record of 1:38.41, a time that was run in 2000 (17 years ago). This year's time also marks just the third time in program history that the relay has run under 1:39.
// BROKEN AGAIN
For the second year in a row, the women's distance team competed in the Raleigh Relays and will return home with a school record in the 4x1,500m relay as the Bearcats clocked a time of 19:12.58 to better the mark run last year and place fifth overall in the meet. Madison Dunlap, Grace O'Donnell, Vanessa Robinson and Meg Westerheide combined to break the record of 19:16.04 that was run last year with Robinson running the lead leg. Westerheide turned in a split of 4:37.2 to anchor the team to the record this year with that split nearly equalling her lifetime open best of 4:37.15 that she ran last year. One day ago, she ran 4:37.92 in the open 1,500m run, giving her two strong times in as many days.
// THREE FOR THREE
Both Bisiolu (sophomore) and Lattimore (freshman) had strong showings this weekend as both had a hand in a trio of all-time Top 10 program marks. Both ladies were part of the record 4x200m relay after running on the 4x100m relay (#6 all-time) on Saturday while each recorded the eighth-best time in an individual event one day prior. For Lattimore, she turned the eighth-best 100m dash time (11.94) while Bisiolu ranks eighth in the 400m dash (55.03).
// ONE MORE TOP 10
The men also got in on the record book action as the team of Jimmy Brooks, Halen Witcher, Mykel Chambers and Nathan Alexander combined to run 1:26.14 and finish in sixth place in the 4x200m relay. That time ranks as the seventh-fastest in UC history and is the first to be added to the all-time Top 10 list since the 2004 season when the school record was broken (1:25.06).
// MORE WOMEN'S RESULTS
• B. Robinson, after running on the 4x100m relay earlier in the day, came back and finished third overall in the 200m dash as the sophomore turned in a time of 24.29. That time is just 0.06 off her lifetime best, which also ranks sixth in program history.
• Brooke Catherine finished fifth in the invitational section of the pole vault, clearing 3.80m (12-05.50).
• Two women competed in the hammer with Nicole Breeden placing 22nd (48.46m/160-04) and Alexis Gray taking 30th (44.12m/144-09). For Gray, it marked her third event this weekend with a PR, this time coming in the form of a nearly eight-foot improvement.
// MEN'S RESULTS
• Michael Vitucci recorded his second personal-best in as many days, running 1:52.62 to finish seventh in the 800m run.
• The team of Khalid Fuller, Brooks, Chambers and Witcher combined to finish seventh overall in the 4x100m relay as the team ran 41.44.
• Chris Province threw a best of 44.47m (145-10) to place 25th in the hammer.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The first of two home meets of 2017 awaits the Bearcats next week as the program will play host to the Oliver Nikoloff Open on Friday and Saturday (March 31-April 1) at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati. The program also will be inviting back all alumni for a celebration on Friday night as part of the annual meet festivities.
2017 adidas Raleigh Relays - Day 2 (3/25/17)
Women's Results
200m Dash
3. Bryana Robinson - 24.29 (+1.1)
4x100m Relay
1. Cincinnati - 45.20 - UC #6
Mbah, Bisiolu, B. Robinson, Lattimore
4x200m Relay
5. Cincinnati - 1:38.15 - UC RECORD
Bisiolu, Lattimore, Puopolo, Barnes
4x1,500m Relay
5. Cincinnati - 19:12.58 - UC RECORD
Dunlap (4:48.6), O'Donnell (4:51.9), V. Robinson (4:53.3), Westerheide (4:37.2)
Pole Vault - Invitational
5. Brooke Catherine - 3.80m (12-05.50)
Lily Bunse - no height
Rachel Coghill - no height
Pole Vault
-- Sadie Brass - no height
-- Allie Plybon - no height
Hammer
22. Nicole Breeden - 48.46m (160-04)
30. Alexis Gray - 44.12m (144-09) - PR
Men's Results
800m Run
11. Michael Vitucci - 1:52.62 - PR
4x100m Relay
7. Cincinnati - 41.44
Fuller, Brooks, Chambers, Witcher
4x200m Relay
6. Cincinnati - 1:26.14 - UC #7
Brooks, Witcher, Chambers, Alexander
Hammer
25. Chris Province - 44.47m (145-10) - PR