TAMPA, FLA., APRIL 11, 2025 — The University of South Florida opened the South Florida Invitational with a record-breaking performance and an evening of community celebration Friday at the USF Track and Field Stadium.

Vincent Ugwoke shattered his own program record in the men's discus throw with a mark of 62.72m (205' 9"), surpassing the 61.44m (201' 7") standard he set in 2024. The senior led a strong outing for the Bulls' throws group and helped highlight a packed first day of collegiate and community action.

Also featured on Friday was a Special Olympics race, which brought energy and emotion to the evening session. The event was held in front of an enthusiastic crowd and underscored USF's commitment to community engagement.

"We're extremely proud of how our student-athletes competed today, and it was special to see Vincent raise the bar yet again for our program," said Erik Jenkins, USF Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "From high-level performances to our community events like the Special Olympics race, today was a perfect example of what we're continuing to build here at USF—excellence on the track and a strong connection with our community."

In the discus, Jason Nwosu placed sixth with a throw of 51.51m (169' 0") and added a third-place finish in the shot put with a mark of 16.91m (55' 5.75"). Ugwoke also competed in the hammer throw, placing ninth with a 50.15m (164' 6") toss.

In the men's pole vault, Nikodem Pochopien and Andreas Kreiss both cleared 5.11m (16' 9.25"), placing fifth and sixth respectively. Kreiss's mark was a new personal record and ties both athletes for 10th all-time on USF's outdoor top-10 list.

Javon Brown earned a second-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 15.42m (50' 7.25"), placing him eighth all-time in program history.

On the track, the 4x100-meter relay team of Shomari Pettigrew, Nathan Metelus, Isaac Chandra and Jermaine Dyges placed second with a time of 39.81, ranking third on the Bulls' all-time outdoor list. The 4x400-meter squad of Antonio Hanson, Devontie Archer, Tyler Drew and Joshua Crum also earned a second-place finish.

In individual events, Metelus ran 46.81 in the 400-meter dash to place second and move up to ninth on the USF all-time list. In the 800 meters, Karim Belmahdi posted a new personal best of 1:48.54 to maintain his second-place standing on the program's all-time chart.

USF swept the top two spots in the 400-meter hurdles, with Archer running 50.65 for first and Crum finishing in 51.76 for second. Alexavier Monfries added a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.60.

The South Florida Invitational continues Saturday, with competition beginning at 10 a.m. ET and featuring the full slate of women's events. 

Fans are invited to return for more collegiate action throughout the day, capped by two community events in the evening. The "Fun Run With Rocky," featuring USF's beloved mascot, will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the "Fastest Kid in Tampa Bay" competition at 7:20 p.m.

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.