Men's Indoor Track & Field 2/12/2025 12:44:00 PM

Indoor Track and Field teams shine at Frank Colden Invitational, showcasing exceptional performances

The Medgar Evers College men's and women's indoor track and field teams continued to excel during the 2024-2025 campaign, putting forth a plethora of strong performances while competing at the Frank Colden Invitational this past weekend (2/8/25). The meet was hosted by Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. The Cougars set personal records, qualified for CUNYAC championship events, shattered long-standing school records, and climbed both conference and national rankings.

Quote from Coach Reid:

"I'm incredibly pleased with our record-breaking weekend at the Frank Colden Invitational, where our athletes showcased exceptional performances. This meet was a true testament to their hard work, resilience, and talent. We competed against top-tier competition, yet our teams rose to the occasion, delivering standout performances across multiple events. The team excelled across the board—setting multiple school records, achieving personal bests, and qualifying numerous athletes for the CUNYAC and AARTFC championships. From dominant sprints to impressive jumps, throws, and relays, our Cougars proved their strength in every event. I'm especially proud of the two new school records we set in the Men's Pentathlon and Men's Long Jump. Medgar Evers College Track & Field is a force to be reckoned with, and this level of competition only pushed us to new heights. Our athletes responded with grit and determination, and this is just the beginning of what we're capable of achieving."

Top Performances from the Cougars:

Reco Griffith delivered a standout performance at the Frank Colden Invitational, solidifying his dominance on the track. In the men's 60m dash, he blazed to a 3rd-place finish with a time of 7.08 seconds, easily surpassing the CUNYAC qualifying standard. He followed up with a strong 2nd-place finish in the 200m, clocking a CUNYAC qualifying time of 22.95 (converted to 22.55). Griffith's versatility was also on display as a key member of the 4x400m relay team, which secured 5th place with a time of 3:37.94. With each race, Griffith continues to raise the bar, proving he is a force to be reckoned with.

Dontay Washington delivered a historic performance at the Frank Colden Invitational, setting a new Medgar Evers College school record in the men's pentathlon with 2,335 points and finishing 5th overall. His individual performances were equally impressive: Long Jump: 5.63m 60m Hurdles: CUNYAC qualifying time of 9.81 seconds. 1000m Run: Personal best of 3:34.70. High Jump: CUNYAC qualifying mark of 1.70m. Shot Put: 7.56m. Pole Vault: CUNYAC qualifying mark of 2.45m, currently ranked 2nd in the conference Washington's relentless growth and determination make him a standout in the field.

Omari Hinds made history at the Frank Colden Invitational, setting four personal records and redefining expectations. His most spectacular achievement came in the men's long jump, where he soared 6.74m to break the MEC school record, secure 2nd place, and qualify for both the CUNYAC Championships and the AARTFC NCAA Regional Championships. His other impressive marks include: 200m Dash: 24.01 (converted to 23.59) – 5th in the conference. 400m Dash: 57.83 (converted to 56.93) – Personal-best. Triple Jump: 11.94m – CUNYAC qualifying mark, 8th place. High Jump: 1.50m, finishing 11^th. Hinds isn't just a rookie—he's a rising star.

Thenica Thompson delivered a stellar performance at the Frank Colden Invitational, setting personal bests and earning multiple CUNYAC qualifications. She placed 4th in the 200m with a time of 27.37 (converted to 26.96), a personal best. In the 60m dash, she ran a CUNYAC qualifying time of 8.47, placing 19th overall. Thompson also excelled in the long jump, leaping 4.89m to finish 8th, a mark that currently ranks 2nd in the conference and 3rd in MEC history. Her performances are proof that she's not just a promising athlete—she's a game-changer.

Nia Butler continued to dominate the field events at the Frank Colden Invitational. She placed inside the top 25 in the women's weight throw with a CUNYAC-qualifying mark of 11.76m, demonstrating her strength and precision. In the shot put, she placed 26th with a throw of 8.78m. Butler's consistent performances highlight her potential to shine at the highest levels.

Rinnah Brown made her mark at the Frank Colden Invitational, finishing 7th in the women's pentathlon with a score of 2,226 points, now the 2nd-best mark in MEC school history. Her individual performances showcased her all-around talent: 60m Hurdles: 10.08 seconds – Personal best, CUNYAC qualifying time, 2nd-best in MEC history. Long Jump: 4.62m. 800m Run: 2:51.18. High Jump: 1.34m. Shot Put: 5.48m. Brown's impressive showing cements her as a rising talent in the conference.

Additional Cougar accomplishments/feats:

Jahiem Johnson: Finished 3rd in the 200m (23.00, converted to 22.60, CUNYAC qualifier), 10th in the 60m (7.29, CUNYAC qualifier), and 10th in the 400m (53.83, converted to 52.98, CUNYAC qualifier).

Rupert Luard-Charles: Leaped 6.11m in the long jump, securing a CUNYAC qualification.

Jalen Atkinson: Ran personal bests in the 800m (2:27.76, converted to 2:25.68) and the mile (5:44.68, converted to 5:40.34).

Jose Janvier: Set a personal best of 12:43.42 in the 3000m (converted to 12:34.64).

Tyler Smith: Delivered personal bests in the 800m (2:26.85, converted to 2:24.78) and the mile (5:57.81, converted to 5:53.31).

Men's 4x400m Relay: Jahiem Johnson, Reco Griffith, Adeolu Adeyemi, and Rupert Luard-Charles finished 5th with a time of 3:37.94 (converted to 3:34.52).

Kenia Irish-Bramble: Clocked a personal best of 2:42.51 (converted to 2:40.66) in the 800m, earning a CUNYAC qualification.

Toshel Goffe: Won the 60m dash trials at Bucknell with a blazing 7.90, qualifying for CUNYAC and AARTFC NCAA Regionals.

Jada Clayton: Set a personal best and CUNYAC-qualifying mark in the weight throw (11.17m), ranking 2nd best in MEC history.

Next Up for the Cougars:

The Cougars will return to the track and field this Saturday, February 15, as the teams will compete at the Kane Invitational, hosted by Cornell University. Start-time at Barton Hall in Ithaca, NY is scheduled for 11:00am.

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