TicketsCINCINNATI— The University of Cincinnati track and field program recorded seven program top-10 marks and three event victories over the weekend as Bearcats competed at both the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina and the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational inside Gettler Stadium.
// OLIVER NIKOLOFF INVITATIONAL
Graduate student Giovanni Gutierrez (shot put), freshman Tosin Ayodeji (long jump) and the women's 4x400m relay team took home event victories as Cincinnati concluded its lone home meet of the year, the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational on Saturday.
Kicking off day two of the invitational, Ayodeji set the tone for the Bearcats as he claimed his first collegiate event victory. He placed first in the men's long jump with a leap of 7.24m / 23' 9".
Gutierrez followed in Ayodeji footsteps by grabbing his first event win of the year in the men's shot put after recording a mark of 17.27m / 56' 8".
The women's 4x400m relay ended in electric fashion as anchor Hannah Connell chased down Akron's Joy Nwokike in the last 100m, passing her right at the finish to secure the win for the Bearcats. The team of Alicia Thorpe, Davenae Fagan, Nadia Collins, and Connell finished with a time of 3:47.35.
Freshman sprinter Davenae Fagan's hot start to the outdoor season continued as she ran a personal best 100m time 11.83, the 10th fastest time in school history. It is the second meeting in a row she has achieved the feat.
The Stone Mountain, Ga., native also placed second overall In the women's 200m with a time of 23.82 in addition to being a part of the winning 4x400m relay.
Graduate student Noah Thomas led the way for the Bearcats on Friday as he placed third overall in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 58.10m / 190' 7".
The Oliver Nikoloff Invitational also served as Senior Day for the UC track and field team. In total, 25 seniors or graduate students (15 men, 10 women) were honored on Saturday. The list of athletes includes: Jack Barchet, Brandon Bonsu, David Endres, Roderick Flint, Matthew Garber, Giovanni Gutierrez, Naquille Harris, Matt Hoak, Carlos Kouassi, Keco Morrison, Ryan Pehlman, Brock Shellhaas, Colin Smith, Noah Thomas, Tyler Wirth, Kirsten Clay, Hannah Connell, Anaya Dees, Nyile Facey, Lauren Greiwe, Carmela Henning, Hannah Jackson, Alicia Thorpe, Leonie Troeger and Maddie Walker.
//RALEIGH RELAYS
Graduate students Maddie Walker and Tyler Wirth both turned heads in their 5,000m races as a small group of distance runners competed at the Raleigh Relays on Thursday and Friday in Raleigh N.C.
In her first meet of the 2024 outdoor season, Walker ran her best 5,000m race since 2022, as she posted a personal best time of 16:26.77, the second-best time in program history.
Joining Walker in finding success in the women's 5,000m was Claire Curtsinger. The sophomore had a breakout year during the indoor season, which has now carried over to the outdoor season as she ran the fifth-best 5,000m in school history with a time of 17:03.51.
Wirth looked to be in midseason form as he opened up his outdoor campaign by running the third-fastest 5,000m in school history with a time of 13:39.51. He placed 21st overall out of 198 runners entered in the event.
Freshman Thomas Ashby did not disappoint in his first outdoor track race as a Bearcat, as he ran the eighth-fastest 5,000m in program history with a time of 14:23.91.
Sophomore Seth Elking added his name to the UC record book as well, and he clocked the ninth-fastest 1,500m in UC history with a time of 3:48.02.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will head to Tucson, Ariz., to compete in the Jim Click Shoot Out and Multi's on April 4-6. The meet will be hosted by Arizona and will mark the second of three regular-season meets the Bearcat will attend that are hosted by current and future members of the Big 12.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on X, Instagram and Facebook.
// OLIVER NIKOLOFF INVITATIONAL
Graduate student Giovanni Gutierrez (shot put), freshman Tosin Ayodeji (long jump) and the women's 4x400m relay team took home event victories as Cincinnati concluded its lone home meet of the year, the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational on Saturday.
Kicking off day two of the invitational, Ayodeji set the tone for the Bearcats as he claimed his first collegiate event victory. He placed first in the men's long jump with a leap of 7.24m / 23' 9".
Gutierrez followed in Ayodeji footsteps by grabbing his first event win of the year in the men's shot put after recording a mark of 17.27m / 56' 8".
The women's 4x400m relay ended in electric fashion as anchor Hannah Connell chased down Akron's Joy Nwokike in the last 100m, passing her right at the finish to secure the win for the Bearcats. The team of Alicia Thorpe, Davenae Fagan, Nadia Collins, and Connell finished with a time of 3:47.35.
Freshman sprinter Davenae Fagan's hot start to the outdoor season continued as she ran a personal best 100m time 11.83, the 10th fastest time in school history. It is the second meeting in a row she has achieved the feat.
The Stone Mountain, Ga., native also placed second overall In the women's 200m with a time of 23.82 in addition to being a part of the winning 4x400m relay.
Graduate student Noah Thomas led the way for the Bearcats on Friday as he placed third overall in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 58.10m / 190' 7".
The Oliver Nikoloff Invitational also served as Senior Day for the UC track and field team. In total, 25 seniors or graduate students (15 men, 10 women) were honored on Saturday. The list of athletes includes: Jack Barchet, Brandon Bonsu, David Endres, Roderick Flint, Matthew Garber, Giovanni Gutierrez, Naquille Harris, Matt Hoak, Carlos Kouassi, Keco Morrison, Ryan Pehlman, Brock Shellhaas, Colin Smith, Noah Thomas, Tyler Wirth, Kirsten Clay, Hannah Connell, Anaya Dees, Nyile Facey, Lauren Greiwe, Carmela Henning, Hannah Jackson, Alicia Thorpe, Leonie Troeger and Maddie Walker.
//RALEIGH RELAYS
Graduate students Maddie Walker and Tyler Wirth both turned heads in their 5,000m races as a small group of distance runners competed at the Raleigh Relays on Thursday and Friday in Raleigh N.C.
In her first meet of the 2024 outdoor season, Walker ran her best 5,000m race since 2022, as she posted a personal best time of 16:26.77, the second-best time in program history.
Joining Walker in finding success in the women's 5,000m was Claire Curtsinger. The sophomore had a breakout year during the indoor season, which has now carried over to the outdoor season as she ran the fifth-best 5,000m in school history with a time of 17:03.51.
Wirth looked to be in midseason form as he opened up his outdoor campaign by running the third-fastest 5,000m in school history with a time of 13:39.51. He placed 21st overall out of 198 runners entered in the event.
Freshman Thomas Ashby did not disappoint in his first outdoor track race as a Bearcat, as he ran the eighth-fastest 5,000m in program history with a time of 14:23.91.
Sophomore Seth Elking added his name to the UC record book as well, and he clocked the ninth-fastest 1,500m in UC history with a time of 3:48.02.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will head to Tucson, Ariz., to compete in the Jim Click Shoot Out and Multi's on April 4-6. The meet will be hosted by Arizona and will mark the second of three regular-season meets the Bearcat will attend that are hosted by current and future members of the Big 12.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on X, Instagram and Facebook.