BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — WVU Tech track and field delivered one of its strongest performances of the outdoor season Saturday at the Jasmine Claggett Memorial, with the Golden Bear men placing third with 82 points and the women adding key scoring efforts throughout the meet.
The day was highlighted by four event victories, a meet record, multiple NAIA marks, four school records and a series of personal-best performances across the lineup.
Freshman Isaac Agee led the way with a record-breaking performance in the 110-meter hurdles, winning the event in a meet-record time of 14.36. The mark ranks No. 9 in the NAIA this season, stands as a personal best and marks a new WVU Tech school record. Agee also competed in the 100 meters (11.33), participated in the 4x100-meter relay that placed third in 43.67 and competed in the long jump.
WVU Tech dominated the distance events with a pair of event titles. Freshman Jan Ponsa captured the 5000 meters in 16:20.18, while sophomore Lexie Wikel won the women's 5000 meters in 21:31.61. Ponsa also competed in the 800 meters (2:06.00) and contributed to the 4x400-meter relay that placed third in 3:58.67. Wikel added a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters (2:07.54) as part of the relay unit.
Freshman Nikolas Rodriguez added a field event victory for the Golden Bears, winning the pole vault with a clearance of 3.65 meters, a mark that also sets a new WVU Tech school record.
Freshman Ralph Aaron Etaba Ateba delivered a standout all-around performance, placing second in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal-best 56.58 that ranks No. 93 in the NAIA and establishes a new school record. He also placed third in the 110-meter hurdles (15.17), a mark that ranks No. 45 nationally, and ran on the third-place 4x100-meter relay team.
Freshman Carlos Parra Soto also etched his name into the record book, setting a new WVU Tech school record in the 100 meters with a time of 11.05. He led the Golden Bears in the event, followed by Agee (11.33), Chucky Jordan (11.35) and John Ashton (12.18). Parra Soto also placed fifth in the 200 meters with a personal-best 22.51, while Jordan (24.09), Ashton (25.85) and Alec Howard (26.14) added additional efforts.
Sophomore Evan McElwayne added a runner-up finish in the 5000 meters (16:27.78), giving WVU Tech two spots on the podium in the event.
In the middle-distance events, Tommy Wikel placed fourth in the 800 meters (2:07.54), followed by David Maxson in sixth (2:11.46). Eli Jordan added a season-best 2:14.46, and Samuel Whitcomb competed in the event as well (2:33.06). In the 1500 meters, Christian Saffouri placed eighth (4:44.79), with Rasmus Jakobsson also competing (4:51.74).
Travis Anderson added a fifth-place finish in the 3000-meter steeplechase (12:57.67), while the Golden Bears' distance depth continued to shine throughout the meet.
In the women's sprint events, freshman Rebecca H. Lorincz placed seventh in the 200 meters (27.63) and ninth in the 400 meters (1:02.19). Freshman Jadyn Farmer competed in both events as well, running 29.23 in the 200 meters and 1:06.35 in the 400 meters.
In the field events, Brady Smith placed eighth in the shot put with a personal-best 12.70 meters, while Colton Henderson added marks of 37.30 meters in the discus and 10.73 meters in the shot put. Jonathan Cantley contributed in both the javelin (22.85m) and shot put (10.49m), while Alec Howard added a personal-best 29.75 meters in the javelin.
On the women's side, Abigail Holley competed in the discus (12.78m), hammer throw (17.24m) and shot put (7.25m).
WVU Tech's relay teams added valuable points, with the 4x100-meter relay team of Parra Soto, Etaba Ateba, Agee and Jordan placing third in a season-best 43.67, while the 4x400-meter relay team of Wikel, Eli Jordan, Saffouri and Whitcomb also finished third in 3:58.67.
With four event victories, a meet record performance, four school records, multiple NAIA marks and strong scoring depth across events, the Golden Bears continue to build momentum heading toward the final stretch of the outdoor season.
WHAT'S NEXT
WVU Tech returns to action April 25 at the John Weaver Invitational in Boone, North Carolina.
