PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania men's and women's track and field programs returned to competition on Saturday afternoon for the first time in over 12 months, scoring 19 wins across the day of events.
 
Between the two programs, the Quakers were led by strong performances by Camille Dickson, Isabella Whittaker and Campbell Parker who each earned two wins apiece.
 
Dickson, competing in three events for the meet, earned first in the long jump (5.85m) and the 100m dash (12.05) while taking second in the 200m dash (24.50).
 
Whittaker competed in her first collegiate meet, scoring two victories that placed her in the top two in program history for both. The freshman opened her career with a nearly a three-second victory in the 400m dash, clocking a time of 53.54 to move her into second in program history behind teammate and captain Uchechi Nwogwugwu who set the record at 52.27. She followed it up with a win in the 200m dash, holding off Dickson for a time of 23.76 to move into second in program history behind 2019 graduate Cecil Ene who set the mark at 23.62.
 

Thoughts on her first collegiate meet from Bella Whittaker... both wins rank top three in program history! pic.twitter.com/PciW6XzILR

— Penn Track & Field/XC (@PennTrack) March 27, 2021

 
In the rest of the women track events, Ellen Byrnes collected the top finish in the 800m (2:14.38), Phoebe White earned first in the 1500m (4:36.33) and Ariana Gardizy came through for first in the 3000m (9:37.94).
 
The jumps in the infield of Franklin Field saw two victories for the women. On top of Dickson's long jump win, Michelle Rubinetti carried 3.68m in the pole vault for the victory.
 
Out at throws, Mayyi Mahama led a handful of wins for the Quakers, taking the hammer throw by nearly a 20-meter difference between second place. She tossed a 64.79m hammer for the first win of the season, not far off her program-record 65.66m throw she set in 2019 at the USATF U20 championships. She was joined by Inumidun Oyebode who won the discus throw (37.76m) and Kirsten West who threw for first in the javelin throw (44.80m), both marks setting personal bests.
 
For the men, Parker earned the victories in both of his events, starting the day with a win in the hammer throw (53.33m) and following it up with the win in the discus (48.65m). He was joined out at the throws with wins by Ben Kioko in the javelin throw (58.74m) and Olatide Abinusawa in the shot put (14.92m).
 

Caught up with Campbell Parker after a two-win day! pic.twitter.com/u6rBAMpkR5

— Penn Track & Field/XC (@PennTrack) March 27, 2021

 
On the infield for the jumps, wins were earned in the pole vault by Scott Toney (4.86m) and the high jump by Michael Hermes (1.95m). Hermes had four others land the 1.95m in the high jump, including teammates Mark Anselmi and Jack Meigel, but Hermes was the only one to clear it in for the first attempt.
 
Back on the track, the men earned two wins. Enoch Cheung started it off with a win in the 110m hurdles, crossing the finish line at 14.99, while captain Ryan Renken ended the meet with a victory in the 5000m with a time of 13:52.78, shattering his personal record and cracking into the third spot in program history.
 
Both teams return to action next Saturday, April 3, hosting the Philadelphia Big 5 meet back at Franklin Field. For more information on how to follow the meet, check out www.pennathletics.com.