TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2025) – The University of South Florida wrapped up its road trip today at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational at Boston University. A smaller group of Bulls competed after some athletes had already participated in the Celebration Pointe Classic in Gainesville, Florida, and the Harvard Crimson Elite meet in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the previous day.

Gabriel Moronta highlighted the day for the Bulls, setting a new indoor program record in the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 46.04 seconds, surpassing teammate Nathan Metelus on the all-time list. Markel Jones finished in third place in the same event, clocking a time of 46.91 seconds.

Both the men's and women's 4x400-meter relay teams earned first-place finishes. The men's team, consisting of Metelus, Moronta, Jones, and Antonio Hanson, matched the program record with a blistering time of 3:07.59, the same mark set in 2024. The women's relay team, featuring Terren Peterson, Rushana Dwyer, Amenda Saint-Louis, and Malaysia Johnson, crossed the finish line at 3:37.21 to secure the win.

In the men's high jump, the Bulls earned two of the top three spots. Kendell Mosley placed second with a jump of 2.00 meters (6' 6.75"), while Javell Brown finished third with a mark of 1.95 meters (6' 4.75"). Tristen Evatt placed seventh in the women's long jump with a 5.24-meter (17' 2.25") performance.

In the women's 60-meter hurdles, Chakiya Plummer (8.60) and Nia Richards (9.07) both qualified for the finals. Richards finished sixth in the final race, while Plummer did not compete in the finals.

Lynette Scutari ran a 7.69 in the 60-meter dash prelims, while Gianna Hansen clocked 7.84 to also qualify for the finals. Scutari improved her time in the finals, finishing second with a time of 7.62 seconds.

On the men's side, Samiu Abdul-Rasheed posted his fastest time of the day, running 6.72 seconds in the 60-meter dash, while Jaleel Croal finished with a time of 6.85 seconds.

In the women's 500-meter run, Adalin Robinson and Chakiya Plummer both finished inside the top 10. Robinson placed seventh with a time of 1:15.61, while Plummer took eighth with a time of 1:16.06. On the men's side, Hanson finished second overall with a time of 1:03.3, making him the top collegiate runner overall. Devontie Archer took fifth place with a time of 1:03.70, and Joshua Crum finished 11th with a time of 1:04.89.

In the women's 200-meter race, Skyler Watts (24.38), Johnson (24.49), Peterson (24.53), Quainoo (24.62), and Hansen (25.20) finished sixth, ninth, 10th, and 12th, respectively, while also finishing 22nd overall. For the men, Metelus earned first place with a 20.99-second time, and Alexavier Monfries secured seventh place with a 21.46-second mark.

"We saw a high level of execution and competitiveness tonight," said Erik Jenkins, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "Seeing two program records is a reflection of the hard work our athletes have put in, and we look forward to carrying this momentum forward as we move deeper into the season."

Next, the Bulls will head to Chicago, Illinois, to compete in the Windy City Invitational from Friday, Feb. 14, to Saturday, Feb. 15.

Final results from the meet are available HERE. 

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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