TAMPA, FLA., APRIL 10, 2025 — The University of South Florida Track & Field program is set to host the South Florida Invitational, a two-day home meet beginning Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. ET at the USF Track & Field Stadium. The Bulls will welcome top collegiate competitors, local community members, and young athletes for a weekend filled with exciting races, family-friendly activities, and meaningful engagement.

Friday's action will feature a full slate of track and field events, beginning with the men's hammer throw at noon. Competition continues throughout the day, concluding with the men's 10,000-meter run at 8:20 p.m.

In a special moment of community inclusion, the Special Olympics event will take place at 7:45 p.m., welcoming athletes to the stadium for an unforgettable evening showcase.
On Saturday, fans are invited to return for more collegiate action starting at 10 a.m., highlighted by two community events in the evening. The "Fun Run With Rocky," featuring USF's beloved mascot, will kick off at 6:30 p.m., followed by the "Fastest Kid in Tampa Bay" competition at 7:20 p.m.

For those who registered their kids, the race will award participants with free T-shirts and medals, while the overall winner takes home the title and a trophy. Food trucks will also be on-site for spectators and families.

"We're proud to bring the South Florida Invitational back to our home track," said Erik Jenkins, USF Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "This event is about more than just competition — it's a chance for our student-athletes to connect with the community and for young people to be inspired by the sport. We look forward to a great weekend of energy, excitement, and opportunity for all involved."

USF's men's squad will be well-represented across multiple disciplines. Friday's events will feature:

In the men's hammer throw, Aidan Marsh and Vincent Ugwoke will get things started at noon. Men's pole vault begins at 2 p.m. with Andreas Kreiss, Noah Bitter, and Nikodem Pochopien.

In the shot put at 2:30 p.m., Marsh returns alongside Jason Nwosu. Triple jump follows at 5 p.m. with brothers Javell Brown and Javon Brown in the mix. The discus throw also starts at 5 p.m. featuring Marsh, Nwosu, and Ugwoke. The men's 4x100 relay kicks off the track events at 5:20 p.m.

Distance and sprint events include Sebastian Edwards in the 1500m run (5:30 p.m.), a deep lineup in the 400m dash (5:55 p.m.) with Nathan Metelus, Antonio Hanson, Corey Ottey, Jaleel Croal, and Shomari Pettigrew, and Isaac Chandra in the 100m dash (6:15 p.m.).

Karim Belmahdi will compete in the 800m run at 6:35 p.m., while Devontie Archer, Tyler Drew, and Joshua Crum take on the 400m hurdles at 6:50 p.m.

Alexavier Monfries, Jermaine Dyges, and Chandra return for the 200m dash at 7:05 p.m. Andrew Marello will represent the Bulls in the 5,000m run at 7:25 p.m., followed by the 4x400 relay at 8 p.m.

The night concludes with a strong Bulls presence in the 10,000m run at 8:20 p.m., with Edwards, John Keester IV, Marello, Belmahdi, Sean Perry, and Jackson Dravo all entered.

Fans can access live 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.