The USF Track & Field team split into two squads this weekend, as a portion of the team headed to Bloomington, Ind., for the Polytan Invitational, while the other group competed in the LSU Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge, La.
In all, USF athletes posted 11 personal bests, produced 27 Big East qualifiers and won four events.
In Indiana, junior field competitor Jared Thomas’ mark of 53.68 meters (176-1) was strong enough to win the discus event.
Also at the Polytan Invitational, the 4-by-400 meter relay team of Reshaw Exilien, Pascal Orelus, Camilo Calderon and David Aristil took first place with a time of 3:12.97, their best of the season.
Sophomore sprinter Kayvon Webster, who’s also a cornerback on the football team, finished ahead of football teammate Derrick Hopkins in the 100-meter dash at the Invitational. Webster finished fourth with a time of 10.90 seconds, in front of teammate Kevin Bell in sixth at 11.11 and Hopkins in ninth with a time of 11.16. Hopkins won the Big East Indoor Championships earlier this year.
Event winners at the LSU Alumni Gold meet included Denise von Eynatten, who won the pole vault with a height of 4.12 meters (13 feet-6.25 inches) and freshman Marqueshia Stallworth, who won the triple jump with a personal record of 12.63 meters (41-5.25).
Junior Lauren Noe took second place in the hammer throw with a distance of 54.72 meters (179-6) and third in the discus with a throw of 44.89 meters (147-3).
Next up for the team is the Big East Championships in Philadelphia, which begin May 6.
