ATHENS, Ohio. — WVU Tech track and field continued its outdoor season Friday with a strong showing at the Cherry Blossom Festival, highlighted by three school records, three podium finishes and contributions across the track and field lineup.
Freshman Isaac Agee turned in one of the top performances of the day for the Golden Bears. Agee placed second in the 110-meter hurdles finals in 14.77 after running a school-record 14.52 in the prelims, and he also added a 22.98 in the 200 meters.
Freshman Ralph Aaron Etaba Ateba also delivered a record-setting day, breaking the school mark in the 400-meter hurdles with a 58.05, good for fifth overall, while also finishing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles finals in 15.25 and posting a 23.73 in the 200 meters.
On the women's side, Rebecca H. Lorincz added another school record for WVU Tech, clocking a 1:01.63 in the 400 meters. Lorincz also competed in the 200 meters, where she ran 27.23. Jadyn Farmer posted a 1:06.02 in the 400 and a 28.76 in the 200, giving the Golden Bears two solid efforts in both sprint events.
WVU Tech also picked up two more podium finishes. Travis Anderson claimed first place in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 12:11.14, while Crutcher Hutchison won the triple jump with a mark of 12.27 meters.
The Golden Bears showed depth in the sprint events as well. In the 100 meters, WVU Tech was represented by Carlos Enrique Parra Soto (11.58), Athman Musinde (11.62), Chucky Jordan (11.81), Crutcher Hutchison (12.02), Owen Cameron (12.55) and Iain Furman (13.60). In the 200 meters, WVU Tech received efforts from Agee (22.98), Parra Soto (23.24), Musinde (23.60), Etaba Ateba (23.73), Jordan (23.99), Cameron (24.70), Tommy Wikel (24.96) and Furman (28.37).
In the middle-distance and distance events, Tommy Wikel (2:08.75), David Maxson (2:09.02), Christian Saffouri (2:15.04) and Eli Jordan (2:21.42) all competed in the 800 meters. In the 1500 meters, Jan Fasius Ponsa ran 4:22.29 and Samuel Whitcomb finished in 5:06.89. On the women's side, Peyton Asbury competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase and crossed in 16:06.03.
WVU Tech also saw contributions in the field events. Matthew Linville cleared 1.80 meters in the high jump. In the throws, Brady Smith (12.21m), Colton Henderson (11.30m), Matthew Rhodes (10.46m), Jonathan Cantley (10.39m) and Nicholas Vincent (8.49m) all posted marks in the shot put, while Rhodes added a 30.63-meter throw in the hammer. Abigail Holley competed in three events on the women's side, recording 6.82 meters in the shot put, 13.98 meters in the discus and 15.71 meters in the hammer.
Hailey Ervin rounded out the women's track group with a 1:15.39 in the 400-meter hurdles and a 13.51 in the 100-meter prelims.
With three school records, three podium finishes and strong participation across sprints, hurdles, distance and field events, the Golden Bears continued to build positive momentum early in the outdoor season.
WHAT'S NEXT
WVU Tech returns to action on April 10 at the Concord Open Track Invite in Athens, West Virginia, continuing its outdoor season.
