USF Track and Field Finishes Successful Weekend at South Florida Invitational
Tampa, Fla., April 9, 2022 – The University of South Florida track and field team wrapped up a successful day two at the South Florida Invitational, tallying five wins and a total of 13 podium finishes.
"We had a fun day at our home meet," head coach
Erik Jenkins said. "It was good seeing our alums back at the track. Our current student athletes were led by successful efforts in the hurdles, jumps and relays. Many personal bests were achieved, and several events were won."
USF swept the podium in the long jump, with four Bulls finishing in the top four.
Shaniya Benjamin (Tampa, Fla.) took first with a mark of 6.10 meters (20-0.25).
Annia Ashley (Kingston, Jamaica.) came in second with a mark of 5.86 meters (19-2.75),
Jadaja Baxter (Sandy Springs, Ga.) finished third with a mark of 5.86 meters (19-2.75), and
Kendall McDaniel (Loganville, Ga.) took fourth with a mark of 5.84 meters (19-2). McDaniel moved into tenth all-time on USF's performance list with the mark.
Ashley and
Loren Johnson (Orange Park, Fla.) both earned podium finishes in the triple jump. Ashley came in first with a mark of 12.62 meters (41-5), while Johnson came in second with a mark of 12.43 meters (40-9.5), moving into fifth on the program record lists.
In the 4x100 relay, USF's team of Baxter, Benjamin,
Hannah Connell (Bridgetown, Barbados) and
Kadesha Prescott (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) took first with a time of 45.50 seconds, good for tenth all-time in program history. In the 4x400relay the Bulls team of
Sanique Walker (Manchester, Jamaica), Connell, Patricija Roshafa (Limbazi, Latvia) and
Shaneylix Davila (Kissimmee, Fla.).
Davila earned the team's fifth event win of the day by taking first in the 100 hurdles with a time of 13.03, while Connell took third with a time of 13.77.
In the 200-meter dash, Connell finished first with a time of 23.66. This is good for seventh in the program record lists, while Benjamin followed closely with a time of 23.99, good for third in the event.
Walker and Roshofa gave USF two more podium finishes in the 400-meter dash. Walker took second with a time of 56.27, while Roshofa took third with a time of 56.36
The Bulls will split groups next weekend. One group will head to California for the Mt. Sac Relays and another will travel to Gainesville for the Tom Jones Memorial.
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 -
