Tampa, Fla., March 17, 2023 – The University of South Florida track and field team began the USF Bulls Invitational with three victories and several new Top 10 performances.
  
Shaniya Benjamin started the day by taking first in the women's long jump with a mark of 6.07 meters (19-11). Jadaja Baxter placed fourth with 5.91m (19-4.25), followed by Annia Ashley in sixth with 5.87m (19-3.25).
 
Kobe Babin and Stone Baker tied for first place in the pole vault at 5.10m (16-8.75). David Ajama earned a third place finish in the men's long jump with a 7.18m (23-6.25) leap. Alliya Boothe recorded a new personal best and placed fourth in the hammer throw at 51.35m (168-5).
 
Boothe finished day one field events of the USF Bulls Invitational by moving up to the women's shot-put All-Time Top 10 list with a mark of 13.42m (44-0.50).
 
Meanwhile on the track, Sanique Walker opened up with a runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.96, just over a second from her personal record. Arden La-Rose claimed a new personal record in the women's 800m and moved up to sixth place in the All-Time Top 10 lists with a time of 2:11.50.
 
In the men's 200-meter dash, Shevioe Reid finished first with a time of 20.50 seconds (+3.1m/s), which is currently the fastest time in the NCAA. Zayquan Lincoln followed in third place with 20.83 (+3.1m/s). Je'Nyia Burton finished sixth overall in the women's 200m with a new personal record of 23.75, moving her to eighth on the All-Time List.  Cora Kolodge ran a personal record of 18:27.74 in the women's 5,000m.
 
Tomorrow, the Bulls kick off day two of the USF Bulls Invitational at 11 a.m.

The Bulls will also recognize their seniors during the weekend. Ajama, Danelson Mahautiere, Wright, Romaine Beckford, Jeremiah, Parker, Ben Kailes, Patricija Roshofa, Anderson, Hannah Connell, Johnson, and O'Banner will all be honored for their contributions to the program on Saturday at 3:35 p.m.
 

About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 56 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. Romaine Beckford won the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championship in the men's high jump. 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.