TAMPA, FLA., MARCH 22, 2025 — The USF track and field program hosted its annual Alumni Invitational over the weekend, welcoming past and present Bulls to the USF Track & Field Stadium for two days of competition that concluded on Saturday. The event, which was streamed live on ESPN+, featured standout performances, senior recognitions, and opportunities for alumni and athletes to engage in live interviews.

Markel Jones set a new program record in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking an impressive 13.66 seconds to surpass a mark that had stood since 2022. Jones' record-breaking performance was his third of the 2025 season, further cementing his place in USF history. Seniors Michael Bourne III (14.04) and Tyler Drew (14.13) also contributed strong performances, finishing in seventh and ninth place, respectively.

The Bulls saw several additional standout performances across the two-day event. In the men's discus, senior Vincent Ugwoke took first place with a 59.56m (195' 5") throw, while Jason Nwosu landed inside the top 10 with a mark of 51.04m (167' 5"). In the men's triple jump, Javon Brown and Javell Brown secured fifth and sixth place finishes with jumps of 14.93m (48' 11.75") and 14.66m (48' 1.25"), respectively.

On the women's side, Mimansa Dahiya placed fifth in the triple jump with a 12.26m (40' 2.75") mark. The women's 4x100m relay team ran a 44.72 time, good for eighth on the Bulls' all-time outdoor list, while the men's 4x100m squad finished second at 38.88 seconds, ranking second on the program's top-10 list.

Individually, Rushana Dwyer finished third in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 52.74, tying for second place on the Bulls' all-time outdoor list in the event. Adalin Robinson also made her mark, running 54.38 to rank eighth on the program's top-10 list. For the men, Alexavier Monfries placed sixth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 46.87.
Doris Quainoo ran 11.67 seconds in the 100-meter dash to place ninth for the women, while Jaleel Croal (10.05) and Shomari Pettigrew (10.17) finished first and third, respectively, for the men. Croal improved his second-place time on USF's all-time outdoor list, previously standing at 10.13 seconds, while Pettigrew moved into third on the list.
The meet concluded with strong relay finishes as the women's 4x400m team of Skyler Watts, Terren Peterson, Rushana Dwyer, and Adalin Robinson ran 3:33.59 to finish third. The men's 4x400m squad, featuring Markel Jones, Nathan Metelus, Alexavier Monfries, and Devontie Archer, took second with a time of 3:06.45.

USF took time during the meet to honor its graduating seniors at center field, celebrating their dedication to the program. Among those recognized were Karim Belmahdi, Sydney Granack, Amenda Saint Louis, Madeline Abega, Chakiya Plummer, Antonio Hanson, Jermaine Dyges, Sebastian Edwards, Javell Brown, Javon Brown, Kendell Mosley, Elisha Teneus-Claude, Vincent Ugwoke, Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Mimansa Dahiya, Tyra Thomas, Audrey Wuerffel, Chloe Fernander, Antonia Sealy, Victoria Valdez, Tyler Drew, Michael Bourne III, and Kobe Babin.

Additionally, USF track and field alumni were honored during the event, with Hall of Famers Matthew O'Neal and Dayana Octavien among the group of those in attendance to pay tribute to the program's rich history.

"This meet is always special because it brings our past, present, and future together," said USF Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Erik Jenkins. "We're incredibly proud of our seniors for their contributions, our alumni for their continued support, and our student-athletes for their outstanding performances. The program is in a great place, and we're excited about what's ahead."

South Florida will now shift its focus to the remainder of the outdoor season, with the Bulls set to continue their strong campaign in Raleigh, N.C. for the Raleigh Relays from Thursday, March 27 through Saturday, March 29. 

Fans can access final results 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 captured back-to-back American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships in 2024 and 2025 and also claimed the 2024 AAC Outdoor Championship. This past season, 10 Bulls athletes earned All-America honors, including 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. Additionally, Romaine Beckford represented USF by winning the 2023 NCAA indoor and outdoor national titles in the men's high jump.
The Bulls' achievements extended to individual accolades, with Saminu Abdul-Rasheed earning the 2025 Indoor Most Valuable Performer award and Nikodem Pochopien being named Freshman of the Year. The USF coaching staff also received high honors, earning the AAC Indoor Staff of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025. 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-America distinctions. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program milestone by earning three All-America honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Since 2013, USF has produced two NCAA runner-up finishes: O'Neal in the triple jump (2016) and Courtney Anderson in the high jump (2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins, who took over in July 2019, has played a key role in the program's success, guiding USF to seven program records and 40 top-10 all-time program marks during the 2021 outdoor season. USF has also hosted major track and field events at its USF Track & Field Stadium, including the 2018 NCAA East Preliminary and the AAC Outdoor Championships in 2021 and 2023.