TAMPA, FLA., APRIL 12, 2025 — Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, the NCAA's fastest sprinter, highlighted the final day of USF's two-day home meet by presenting the trophy for the "Fastest Kid in Tampa" race and connecting with families at USF Track & Field Stadium. The moment brought together the fastest runner in the NCAA and the fastest kid in Tampa Bay, blending elite competition with community spirit.

"Anytime we can bring the community into our facility and inspire the next generation of athletes, it's a win for everyone," said Erik Jenkins, USF Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "Seeing Abdul-Rasheed Saminu connect with those kids was special—it was the fastest runner in the NCAA meeting the fastest kid in Tampa Bay. That's what makes days like this unforgettable."

On the competition side, the Bulls produced a strong showing across two full days of action, highlighted by several new personal records and performances that reshaped the program's all-time outdoor top-10 lists.

In the women's javelin throw, Natalie Danner recorded a personal best of 42.49 meters (139 feet, 5 inches), a mark that places her eighth all-time in USF outdoor history. Annalee Harbison tied her personal best in the hammer throw with a distance of 54.64 meters (179 feet, 3 inches), good for a fifth-place finish, and also contributed to the discus throw group with a 38.93-meter (127 feet, 8 inches) mark.

In the long jump, Tristen Evatt posted a new collegiate personal best of 6.07 meters (19 feet, 11 inches), landing him at No. 9 all-time for the Bulls, while teammate Nischa King also added to the event's success with a seventh-place finish. The pole vault squad saw strong results as Ella Dolce cleared 3.90 meters (12 feet, 9.5 inches), continuing her solid season.

On the track, Sydney Granack joined the program's all-time list after finishing the 3000-meter steeplechase in 11:16.62, securing second place and the ninth-best time in school history. Victoria Valdsez also delivered a strong performance in the 1500 meters, finishing in fourth place with a time of 4:55.28.

The women's 100-meter hurdles saw notable finishes from Tyra Thomas and Gianna Hansen. Thomas placed second with a time of 13.41, resetting her own mark on the all-time list, while Hansen finished fourth in 13.55, earning a spot at ninth on the list. In the women's 800 meters, Sydni Studesville placed seventh, and Terren Peterson clocked a 23.15 in the 200-meter dash to finish third overall.

The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Rushana Dwyer, Malaysia Johnson, Chakiya Plummer, and Adalin Robinson capped off the event with a first-place finish and a time that ranks eighth on the Bulls' all-time outdoor list.

Up next, the Bulls will travel to Walnut, California, to compete in the Mt. San Antonio College meet on Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 19.

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.