ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Winthrop University track and field squads look to build off the momentum established in the last time out, heading up to Tryon for the two-day Tryon International Winter Invitational starting on Friday, Jan. 16.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
- Winthrop opened its season in Winston-Salem
- Newly minted head coach Raffael Craig guides the Eagles in his first season at the helm
- “I’m proud of the work they have all put in,” said Craig.
- The men’s squad returns 25, adding ten newcomers
- The women’s squad returns 16, and adds 13 new athletes
RECAP OF LAST MEET
IN THE FIELD
- Autumn Craig won the women’s weight throw event with a mark of 14.42 meters.
- Maurion Jamison placed third in the men’s triple jump with a 14.27-meter effort, moving into fifth place in the Winthrop record book.
- Timothy Speaks captured the men’s weight throw title with a 16.06-meter throw.
- Carina Fiorucci finished fifth in the women’s pole vault after clearing 3.30 meters.
ON THE TRACK
- In the men’s 60 meters, Michael Boucher clocked a 6.893 to place sixth, moving into sixth place in the Winthrop record book.
- A time of 22.70 in the men’s 200 meters from Carlos Frank resulted in a 20th-place finish and the ninth-fastest mark in program history.
- The men’s 300 meters featured a strong showing, led by Tristen Patterson’s 35.08, which placed ninth and ranked second all-time at Winthrop.
- Kendale Cooke followed closely with a 35.17 to finish 10th, moving into fourth in the school record book.
- Darrell Price added another top-15 effort in the event, placing 14th with a 35.69 that ranks eighth in program history.
- A school record highlighted the men’s 600 meters, as Mitchell Hill ran a 1:22.14 to place third.
- Hill doubled back in the men’s 1,000 meters, finishing second in 2:36.70, the sixth-fastest time in Winthrop history.
- On the women’s side, Jordan Bailem placed seventh in the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.78, tying the third-fastest mark in the program record book.
- Alex Cameron recorded an 11th-place finish in the women’s 300 meters after crossing in 42.90, the fourth-fastest time in school history.
- Jayla Weeks followed with a 44.90 in the women’s 300 meters to place 15th, ranking eighth all-time at Winthrop.
- Another school record fell in the women’s 600 meters, as Kayah Marques posted a 1:42.34 to finish fourth.
- Marques closed the meet by winning the women’s 1,000 meters in 3:01.71, the second-fastest mark in program history.
- The women’s sprints wrapped up with Amaiya Whitlock’s 7.89 in the 60 meters, good for 14th place and tied for seventh in the record book.
RECAP OF FIRST MEET
- Freshman Carina Fiorucci delivered one of the day’s highlights with a 3.30m clearance in the women’s pole vault, moving her to fourth all-time in program history.
- Senior Faith Wood added another top performance in the women’s triple jump, finishing with an 11.62m mark that ranks fifth all-time for the Eagles.
- On the men’s side, senior Timothy Speaks broke into the Winthrop top five in the weight throw, placing fifth overall with a 16.24m toss that now stands fifth all-time.
- The men ignited the afternoon with a sweep of school records on the track. Junior Shane King opened the run with a 21.85 performance in the 200m, securing the win and breaking the long-standing indoor school record of 21.89 set in 2007. Teammate Michael Boucher also climbed the charts, posting a 22.09 claiming the #4 all-time spot.
- The momentum continued in the 600m, where junior Kendale Cooke stormed to a 1:23.11 finish to take the event to win and shatter the program record. Juniors Jurnii Lucas (1:24.01) and Darrell Price (1:24.58) followed close behind, slotting into #2 and #3 all-time, respectively.
- Winthrop closed the meet wiht another solid time, as Price, King, Lucas, and Cooke combined to win the men’s 4x400m relay in 3:18.06.
- On the women’s side, junior Jordan Bailem turned in a strong showing in the 60m hurdles, running 8.85 to earn fourth all-time in program history.
LOOKING BACK ON 2024-25
VMI INVITATIONAL (JAN. 24-25)
- Kevin Brown won the men’s 300m in 34.68, topping the field on VMI’s banked oval.
- Faith Wood claimed runner-up in the women’s triple jump at 11.61m.
- Timothy Speaks opened the weekend with 3rd in the 35lb weight throw at 16.54m.
- Maurion Jamison finished 8th in the triple jump with a 14.15m effort.
GAMECOCK CHALLENGE (FEB. 1)
DOC HALE INVITATIONAL & LIBERTY OPEN (Feb. 7-8)
- Kevin Brown took 3rd in the 60m at Virginia Tech (6.79) and added 7th in the 200m (21.86).
- Maurion Jamison placed 8th in the triple jump at 14.03m.
USC INDOOR INVITE (Feb. 22)
- Maddie Spenner finished 8th in the women’s weight throw (12.96m).
- Maurion Jamison finished 3rd in the men’s triple jump at 14.25m.
- Timothy Speaks placed 3rd in the shot put (13.94m) and 5th in the weight throw (16.06m).
- Logan Ruehl finished 5th in the men’s shot put (13.63m).
- Jade Reese placed 8th in the 200m (26.23).
- The women’s DMR took 2nd, with returners Kayah Marques and Morgan Ruff contributing.
- The men’s 4×400 relay took 2nd in 3:13.91 with returners Cooke, Lucas, Brown, and King.
BIG SOUTH INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY ONE (Feb. 28)
BIG SOUTH INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY TWO (Mar. 1)
- Maurion Jamison repeated as Big South champion in the triple jump with 14.58m.
- Kevin Brown earned runner-up in the 60m with a 6.81.
- The men’s 4×400 (returners Cooke, Lucas, Brown, King) grabbed 3rd in 3:14.86.
- Faith Wood and Jaelyn Lynch finished Top-8 in the women’s triple jump.
- Maya Flynn cleared 2.90m for 8th in the pole vault.
- Faith Wood and Jurnii Lucas were named to the Big South All-Academic Team.
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WINTHROP IMPACT NETWORK
Winthrop Athletics is proud to announce the launch of WIN: Winthrop’s Impact Network- a distinguished philanthropic giving society established to support and elevate Winthrop’s 16 NCAA Division I programs and nearly 300 student-athletes.
In the new era of college athletics, it is critical now more than ever to generate revenue to provide Winthrop student-athletes with the resources and opportunities needed to compete for Big South championships and advance in the NCAA tournament. Winthrop’s Impact Network members will have an elite level of direct impact on the future of Winthrop Athletics. For more information, click here.
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