TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2025) – The University of South Florida track and field team continued to impress at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1. The event, held at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville, Kentucky, saw numerous personal bests, qualifying performances, and top finishes from the Bulls.
In the men's 60-meter hurdles, Markel Jones and Michael Bourne III both posted qualifying times to advance to the final round. Jones finished fourth in the finals with a time of 7.84 seconds, while Bourne III placed sixth with a 7.98-second performance.

The women's 60-meter hurdles featured a dominant showing from Tyra Thomas, Doris Quainoo, and Madeline Abega, who all qualified for the finals. Thomas finished second with a time of 8.31 seconds, tying her for fourth on the Bulls' all-time top 10 list. Quainoo clocked 8.39 seconds to place third, earning the sixth-best time in program history, while Abega finished eighth, remaining on the top 10 list.

Saminu Abdul-Rasheed also had a standout performance in the men's 60-meter dash. After setting a qualifying time in the prelims, Abdul-Rasheed went on to win the final with a time of 6.59 seconds, nearly breaking his indoor program record. He finished ahead of athletes from Florida State and the University of Cincinnati.

In the women's 400-meter seeded event, Malaysia Johnson rounded out the event with a 10th-place finish, clocking 56.99 seconds.

Andrew Marello ran the mile, finishing 30th among 62 runners with a time of 4:18.51. The performance not only moved him into the Bulls' all-time top 10 list but also set a new personal record for the distance.

In the women's triple jump, Mimansa Dahiya finished ninth with a leap of 11.96 meters (39 feet, 3 inches).

Ella Dolce and Madeline Dutz both saw success in the women's unseeded pole vault. Dolce finished second with a jump of 3.92 meters (12 feet, 10.25 inches), while Dutz placed fourth with a vault of 3.47 meters (11 feet, 4.5 inches).

In the men's long jump, Javon Brown and Javell Brown both posted solid finishes for South Florida. Javon Brown finished fourth with a jump of 14.83 meters (48 feet, 8 inches), while Javell Brown placed sixth with a leap of 14.49 meters (47 feet, 5 inches).

Jason Nwosu continued his strong performances, earning second place in the men's shot put with a throw of 16.87 meters (54 feet, 9.25 inches).

In the 4x400-meter relay, the women's team finished third with a time of 3:39.47, which ties for fourth place on the Bulls' all-time top 10 list. Malaysia Johnson, Rushana Dwyer, Terren Peterson, and Amenda Saint-Louis contributed to the strong showing. The men's 4x400-meter relay team finished second with a time of 3:10.01, placing fifth on the program's top 10 list. Gabriel Moronta, Nathan Metelus, Bourne III, and Jones helped the men's team to the impressive finish.

"We had some good performances this weekend, highlighted by event winners and multiple top five performances in program history," said Erik Jenkins, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "These achievements reflect the continued progress of our program, and we will remain working toward sustained success."

The PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational brought together some of the nation's top talent, and the South Florida Bulls showcased their strength across a range of events, positioning themselves for greater achievement ahead.

DAY 1 NOTES:
-Goodness Iredia set a new indoor program record in the men's long jump with a leap of 7.79 meters (25 feet, 6.75 inches), claiming first place. 
-Nischa King won the long jump with a mark of 5.90 meters (19 feet, 4.25 inches), making the Bulls' all-time top 10 list.
-Delaney Stephens ran a personal-best 10:08.05 in the women's 3,000 meters, while Joshua Crum posted a personal best in the men's 400 meters (48.93 seconds), finishing second. Karim Belmahdi finished second in the men's 800 meters, just shy of his school record.
 
ABOUT USF TRACK AND FIELD
The USF men's track and field team claimed both the 2024 Indoor and Outdoor AAC Championships. This past season, 10 Bulls athletes earned All-American honors: Shevioe Reid, Shaniya Benjamin, Gabriel Moronta, Nathan Metelus, Terren Peterson, Amenda Saint Louis, Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Goodness Iredia, Zahria Allers-Liburd, and Tre'Sean Bouis. Romaine Beckford also represented USF as he won the 2023 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the men's high jump.

The Bulls' achievements extended to individual accolades, with Markel Jones winning the 2024 AAC Indoor Freshman of the Year award, and Jaleel Coral being named the 2024 AAC Indoor Most Valuable Performer. The coaching team also received high honors, earning the 2024 AAC Indoor Staff of the Year award. USF boasts a remarkable track record, with 56 All-America selections and at least one All-American honoree in 10 of the past 12 years. In 2021, eight athletes combined for 11 All-American distinctions. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program milestone by 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. USF has also seen two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013: O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins, who took the reins in July 2019, guided the team to seven program records and 40 top-10 all-time program marks during the 2021 outdoor season. Additionally, USF has hosted significant events at its Track and Field Stadium, including the 2018 NCAA East Preliminary and the 2021 and 2023 AAC Outdoor Championships.
 
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