Tampa, Fla., April 29, 2023 – The University of South Florida track and field team finished a successful weekend of competition at the Penn Relays and UNF East Coast Relays, wrapping up the regular 2023 season. Romaine Beckford won the high jump at the 127th Penn Relays while Nia Robinson was the women's long jump runner-up.
"Penn Relays is the premiere regular season track event," head coach Erik Jenkins said, "Despite the daunting weather conditions, we were able to secure a school first Championship of American relay iwn and another high jump title. Remarkably, we were also a few centimeters short of another title in the long jump. Penn Relays is a special meet that has a crowd like no-other. This student athlete experience will pay dividends in the future."
Penn Relays
NCAA Indoor National Champion Romaine Beckford took first place at one of the nation's most prestigious meets in the high jump, with a mark of 2.18m (7-1.75). This is second consecutive year that he has won the event at Penn Relays.
Nia Robinson finished second in the women's long jump championship with a new personal best mark of 6.44 meters (21-1.25), standing in third place in the programs all-time list.
UNF East Coast Relays
Jesse Benavides continued a successful weekend with a new personal best time of 1:53.84 in the men's 800m.
In the women's triple jump, Annia Ashley established a new season-best mark of 12.54 meters (41-1.75). Ashley's mark now moves her up into the fifth best performer in USF history.
Up Next
The Bulls will host the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Tampa, Fla., from May 12-14.
USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 56 All-American 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.
– #GoBulls –
