TAMPA, Fla. – South Florida track and field completed day two at the Windy City Invitational at Gately Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, with a program record and strong performances across the board.

Markel Jones earned another program record in the 60-meter hurdle finals with a time of 7.65 seconds, surpassing his previous record set earlier this season (7.78). The previous record of 7.78 stood for 14 years, set by David Aristil in 2011. Jones' new mark adds to the growing list of accomplishments for the Bulls this season.

The women's 4x400-meter relay team posted the second-best indoor time in program history, clocking a 3:36.07 time. Additionally, the men's 4x400-meter relay team recorded a time of 3:08.32, marking the fourth-best indoor time in program history. 

Alexavier Monfries finished second in the men's 200-meter race, running a time of 21.34, which moves him to seventh on the Bulls' all-time top 10 list. Doris Quainoo qualified for the women's 60-meter hurdles finals, where she ran an 8.35 to finish in first place. Her time ties her previous mark on the Bulls' top 10 list. Saminu Abdul-Rasheed placed first in the men's 200-meter invite, running a personal best indoor time of 20.72. In the men's triple jump, Javell Brown and Javon Brown finished second and third, with marks of 15.05 meters (49 feet, 4.5 inches) and 14.89 meters (48 feet, 10.25 inches), respectively.

Other notable finishes included Kobe Babin securing fourth place in the men's pole vault with a mark of 5.32 meters (17 feet, 5.5 inches), and Corey Ottey earning a fifth-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 1.98 meters (6 feet, 6 inches). 

Skyler Watts ran a 24.45 in the women's 200-meter race, placing her in the top 10 for the Bulls, while Malaysia Johnson finished in 15th place with a time of 24.52, and Quainoo placed 20th with a time of 24.62. Isaac Chandra finished 15th in the men's 200-meter race with a time of 21.90. Clayton Knight competed in the men's 3,000-meter race, finishing 12th with a time of 8:40.05, which placed him on the Bulls' top 10 list. Sydni Studesville set a new indoor personal record in the women's 800-meter race, finishing in 2:13.59, surpassing her previous best of 2:16.33.

Terren Peterson notched a season-best time of 24.32 in the women's 200-meter invite, while Nathan Metelus (21.15) and Jaleel Croal (21.20) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the men's 200-meter race. 

In the men's shot put, Jason Nwosu marked a throw of 16.13 meters (52 feet, 11 inches) to place seventh, while Vincent Ugwoke recorded a 15.45-meter throw (50 feet, 8.25 inches). In the women's triple jump, Mimansa finished in the top 10 with a jump of 12.18 meters (39 feet, 11.5 inches), while Nischa King placed 14th with a mark of 11.96 meters (39 feet, 3 inches).

"Today was another outstanding day for our team, with another program record and several other top finishes," said Erik Jenkins, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "Our athletes are continuing to see the fruits of their labor, and it's rewarding to see their hard work pay off."

Next, the Bulls will head to Birmingham, Alabama to compete in the Indoor American Athletic Conference Championships on Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1.

Fans can access final results online HERE.

For complete coverage of USF Track and Field, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Instagram). 

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.