USF Track and Field Finishes Successful Day at Penn Relays, UNF Invite
Tampa, Fla., April 29, 2022 – The University of South Florida track and field team completed a successful day on Friday, completing days of competition at the Penn Relays and the UNF Invite.
"The Penn Relays is one of the premier meets in the country," head coach
Erik Jenkins said. "Our ladies have been able to earn spots in the finals of the prestigious College Women's 4x 100 Championship of America and College Women's 100m Hurdles Championship. We also had solid performances in UNF especially in some of the field events."
Penn Relays
Sanique Walker (Manchester, Jamaica) started the meet strong for the Bulls yesterday, finishing in fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.24. The mark moves her up to third on USF's all-time list.
On Friday, the women's 4x100 relay of
Jadaja Baxter (Sandy Springs, Ga.),
Shaniya Benjamin (Tampa, Fla.),
Hannah Connell (Bridgetown, Barbados) and
Kadesha Prescott (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) posted a 44.87, which placed second in their heat and fifth overall. The mark qualified them for the finals on Saturday and placed the grouping at No. 4 on USF's all-time performance list.
Shaneylix Davila (Kissimmee, Fla.) and Connell both qualified for Saturday's finals in the 100-meter hurdles. Davila finished in sixth with a time of 13.47, while Connell placed ninth with a 13.66. Connell's mark moved her up to sixth all-time at USF.
Tomorrow, Benjamin represents the Bulls in the long jump, the women's 4x100 team runs in the finals at 1 p.m. and
Romaine Beckford (Portland, Jamaica) competes in the high jump at 2:30 p.m.
UNF Invite
Stone Baker (New Port Richey, Fla.) and
Kobe Babin (Niceville, Fla.) claimed first and second, respectively, in the men's pole vault. Baker's mark of 5.20 meters (17-0.75) was a new season best, while Babin earned second with a 5.00-meter (16-4.75) vault.
Eron Carter (Palatka, Fla.) finished third in the hammer throw with a mark of 55.64 meters (182-6).
Kendall McDaniel and
Annia Ashley both made the finals in the women's long jump. McDaniel finished sixth with a mark of 5.77 meters (18-11.75), while Ashley finished seventh, also with a 5.77-meters (18-11.75).
Alliya Boothe also made the finals in the women's hammer throw. She finished ninth with a mark of 48.65 meters (159-7).
About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 54 All-America selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.
– #GoBulls –
