EWING, N.J. – The University of Pennsylvania track and field programs wrapped up the regular-season slate on Thursday at the TCNJ Last Chance meet, led by a program-record performance by freshman Isabella Whittaker.
Whittaker led the way for the Quakers, as the women's team pulled in seven top finishes for the day. The freshman was a part of two of them, including tying a program record in the 200m dash. In a field of 10 runners, Whittaker won by over a second clocking a time of 23.62 to boost herself into first place in program history with Penn graduate Cecil Ene, who set the mark in 2019. She now holds the program record in the 200m and sits second in the 400m in just her first collegiate season.
Whittaker joined teammates Haley Rizek, Camille Dickson and Grace O'Shea in the 4x100, taking first place with a time of 46.06.
Among the other first-place finishes, Claire Moreau stood out in the high jump, clearing a new personal best of 1.75m (5'8.75") to move herself into a tie for second in program history with two alum and current teammate Addie Renner.
Dickson collected two other top finishes to go with her win in the 4x100, taking the win in the 100m dash with a time of 11.96 and remaining perfect for the season in the long jump with a clearance of 6.21m (20'4.5").
Ellen Byrnes and Niamh Hayes wrapped up the wins for the women's team on Thursday, as Byrnes crossed the line first in the 800m with a time of 2:11.29 and Hayes collected the victory in the 1,500m with a time of 4:40.25.
On the men's side, the Quakers claimed five top finishes led by an impressive performance by
Anthony Russo in the 5,000m. Late in the race, his lap times continued to get better with his best 400m coming in the final lap with a time of 1:03. With no competitor remotely close to him down the stretch, he crossed the finish line at 13:53.81 to win the race and put himself at fourth in program history.
Also on the track,
Emerson Douds sprinted to a time of 47.94 in the 400m dash to take first. In the mile, the Quakers took the top four spots led by
Noah Carey with a time of 4:02.80.
Justin Cornetta (4:05.45),
James Lee (4:07.81) and
Zubeir Dagane (4:12.26) followed closely behind, in that order. Cornetta's time marked a new personal best time, good enough to hold him at eighth in program history.
Ben Kioko earned the lone win at throws, landing a distance of 62.20m (204'1") in his fourth attempt at the javelin throw.
Demetri Whitsett wrapped up the wins for the men, landing at 7.06m (23"2") in the long jump on his fifth attempt.
The Quakers will now prepare for Jacksonville, Florida for the NCAA East Preliminaries, beginning on May 26. Information on qualifications and more to be announced at a later date.
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Photography by Michael Nance