ANNAPOLIS – New year, new records!

The University of Pennsylvania men's and women's track & field teams opened the 2020 season with a bang, setting four top-10 all-time records on the women's side and two on the men's team, including a program record in the heptathlon.

While the rest of the team competed at the Navy Invitational in Annapolis, Evan Lee and James Mirfield traveled north to the UConn MultiEvent Challenge. Lee absolutely excelled, piling up 5,507 points in the heptathlon, which converts to 5,532 by virtue of running on a flat track instead of a banked one. Both totals are program records and he moved into fifth all-time in Ivy League history with the performance.

At Navy, the women's team racked up five top-10 records, shining in the short sprints. Penn swept the top-three spots in the 60m hurdles with freshmen Lauryn Harris and Grace O'Shea taking first and second in historic fashion. Harris finished in 8.55, the third-best time in program history, just edging O'Shea, who crossed the line in 8.58, now the fourth-best mark. Breanna Bygrave, the record holder, came in third in 8.72.

In the 60m dash, sophomore Mia Knight finished as the runner-up in 7.60, the fifth-best time in program history. Elena Brown-Soler, a returning All-American from last year's 4x400m relay team, finished second in the 400m in 55.54, the program's fourth-best time.

In field events, record holder and multi-time NCAA regional qualifier Maura Kimmel started strong to win the shot put with a mark of 15.76m (51-8.50) and freshman Morgan Johnson placed third with a mark of 13.54m (44-5.25), moving into eighth all-time.

In total, the women won four events; Uchechi Nwogwugwu won the 500m in 1:13.13 and sophomore Mayyi Mahama took the weight throw title with a mark of 19.48m (63-11). Both are returning All-Americans.

For the men, Josh Bridges, another freshman, finished fourth in the 60m dash, crossing the line in 6.95, the eighth-best time in program history.

Nathan Fisher opened his senior season with a win in the pole vault, clearing 5.10m (16-8.75); Jake Kubiatowicz finished second in the weight throw with a monster toss of 18.39m; Penn's 4x400m relay group placed second in 3:15.54; and Antaures Jackson placed fifth in the first meet of his career, running the 500m in 1:05.48.

UP NEXT?
The Quakers are off until next semester, competing again on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Penn 8-Team Select in Staten Island, N.Y.

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