PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2024) … The Hampton University men's and women's indoor track and field teams opened their 2024-25 seasons this weekend in the Penn Open and came away with three new school records among solid showings in the first weekend.
"A great season opener for us in Philadelphia," said Hampton University head coach
Maurice Pierce. "We had three event winners, including a relay team, and three school records were broken. Overall, we had a great day."
Record Setters
Three school marks were topped on Saturday starting with junior
Mohammed Al-YaFee breaking the record in the men's 1000 meters running a 2:26.58. The previous mark was set by
Geoffrey McCullough in 2017 running 2:28.83.
Jordan Mozie updated her own school record in the 600 meters running a 1:30.56 on Saturday to take third. She broke her previous mark of 1:31.33 set in 2023.
Sophomore Peninah Mutisya broke an eight-year-old school record in the 3000 meters as she won the event in 9:32.02. The previous mark was set by Ce'Aira Brown in 2016 with a 10:06.42.
Track Events
Along with Mutisya's win in the women's 3k, Hampton took first place in the 4x400 relay with Mozie,
Morgan Pruitt,
Arriah Gilmer and
Kayla Spencer winning in 3:45.26.
Joining Mozie in the 300 meters were Kylee King who finished seventh (1:36.24) and
Kayla Spencer who was ninth (1:36.74).
The 60 meter hurdles saw Hampton's women finish 4-5-8 with Saniyah Evans taking fourth (8.87),
Zionn Rice coming in fifth (8.92) and Carmen PenaSoto finishing eighth (9.09).
On the men's side,
Khari Barnes took third in the 60 meters (6.91) and fourth in the 300 meters (34.77). The men's 4x400 relay team of
Justin Anderson,
Chadison Cowan,
Marcus Glanville and
Nellie Ambriton took fourth in 3:17.99.
Joining Barnes in the 60 meter finals was
Deondre McIntosh who fourth in the 60 meters (6.92), while
Jaden Clark was sixth (6.96) .
Field Events
Hampton's other first place finishes came in the field events as Evans won the long jump in her collegiate debut with a leap of 5.83m.
The Lady Pirates provided a 1-2-3 sweep in the shot put as
Oluwatomilayo Akintunde set a personal best winning the shot put in 15.38 meters, with
Nya Harmon taking second (14.82m) and
Rochele Solmon setting a personal best to take third in 14.61m.
In the weight throw, Hampton's
Victoria Caldwell won that event with a toss of 17.68 meters, while
Damali Williams set a personal best taking fourth with a 15.83 meter toss.
For the men,
Ellis Branch took second on the triple jump (14.34m) and
Fanon Miller took second in the weight throw with a personal best of 16.18m.
Joseph Ernest added a second in the long jump (6.79m) and a fourth in the triple jump (14.24m).
Next Up
The teams will next see action in 2025 as they'll run in the VCU Indoor held in Virginia Beach on January 12.
