By: Michael Hayeck | Manager Of Athletic Communications
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Saint Leo University track and field flourished at the Embry Riddle Classic, hosted by conference foe Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. The highlight of the meet came in the men's high jump where junior Keyon Wilson hit the Provisional Standard for the NCAA DII National Championship meet.
Both men's and women's teams saw a myriad of personal bests, showing many strong individual performances as the Sunshine State Conference championship inches closer.
Men
Leading the way in the 200m for the lions was freshman Alexei Leon-George who crossed the line in 22.24. Freshmen Amir Styles Benjamin and James Jones IV saw personal bests at 22.63 and 22.77. The 400m was saw freshman Adon Elienist split a personal best of 49.34, followed by Styles Benjamin who ran 51.17.
Freshman Jason Bracero Jr lead the march in the 800m at 2:03.33, who just edged out sophomore Brandon Hill at 2:03.68. The duo of Bracero Jr and Hill also threw down marks of 4:21.88 and 4:23.61 in the 1500. Both times personal bests for Hill.
The 5000m had freshman Santiago Rodriguez have a 20 second personal best, crossing the line in 16:04.36.
The 4x400m relay of Benjamin, Warren, Henry, Jones IV ran a seasons best time of 3:22.63.
Over on the field, junior Keyon Wilson set a personal best in the high jump, set the school record, and hit the provisional standard for the NCAA DII National Championship meet. With a leap of 2.05m (6'8.75ft), and on his third attempt Wilson made the best jump of his career to this date. Wilson is currently tied for 18th in the nation at the DII level.
For the horizontal jumps, sophomore Jalen Falcon set a personal record at 13.56m in the triple jump, and 6.40m in the long jump.
The throwers had a solid outing to wrap up the day as well as Freshman Joshua Fuller threw a mark of 12.00m in the shotput, and freshman Matthew Gorden set a personal best in the discus of 33.68m to round out the day.
______________
Women
Freshman Mia Lewis got the day started off strong with personal bests in both the 100m and the 200m, splitting marks of 12.52, and 26.30. Freshman Rayona Ocasio also ran a personal best in the 200 at 26.34. Kansas Henry lead the way for the lions in the 200m though, running a time of 24.44.
A week removed from her school record in the 800m, Freshman Dackjerlin Senior Feliz crossed the line in the 400m at 58.78 marking a personal record for her.
The 800 and 1500 were both lead by freshman Jasmine Fajardo, running marks of 2:35.66 and 5:19.27.
Rounding out the distance events was freshman Delaney Glynn in the 5000m, who ran a 4 second personal best of 19:47.13.
For the hurdlers, freshman Hailey Newton saw personal records in both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles; 17.13, and 70.01, respectively. Newton also her lifetime best in the shotput at 7.79m.
The 4x100m relay consisting of all freshman Mia Lewis, Giuliana Adonteng, Virginia Smith, Rayona Ocasio placed 7th overall, with a time of 49.91.
Freshman Virginia Smith and Hawley Johnson took on the daunting task of the heptathlon, and both shined though the seven events. Both saw numerous personal bests in the individual events, and total points scored. Smith recorded 3380 points and 3379 points.
Virginia's Marks
Hawley's Marks
*Bold denotates a personal bests
The Saint Leo track and field team is back in action next weekend at the South Florida Invitational, hosted by the University of South Florida.
