Men's Outdoor Track & Field 3/25/2025 11:37:00 AM

Cougars dominate CUNYAC awards in season's opening week, earning five conference distinctions

The City University of New York Athletic Conference announced its outdoor track and field honorees for the period of Monday, March 17 through March 23, and the Medgar Evers Cougars dominated the distinctions, capturing five total awards. On the men's side, Jahiem Johnson was selected the Athlete of the Week, with Reco Griffith earning Rookie of the Week praise, and Omari Hinds getting tabbed the top Field performer. Medgar's women were represented by Thenica Thompson (Rookie of the Week) and Nia Butler.

The five aforementioned student-athletes earned the conference praise following hearty efforts at the J. Elmer Swanson Spring Classic, hosted by Wesleyan University (3/22). Following the announcement of the awards, Head Coach Hugh Reid spoke.

"I'd like to congratulate the five student-athletes who received recognition from the CUNY Athletic Conference for their performances in the J. Elmer Swanson Spring Classic this past Saturday," Coach Reid said. "These student-athletes recorded multiple CUNYAC-Qualifying performances, broke school records, and showcased their talents in an emphatic way. Obviously, they're just getting started in this new campaign, but it was a strong effort as we make the transition from indoor to outdoor."

Jaheim Johnson delivered a stellar performance at the Wesleyan Swanson Invitational, securing CUNYAC-qualifying marks in two events. He placed 6th in the 400m with a time of 51.27, the 4th fastest time in MEC history and currently the top-ranked time in the CUNYAC. Johnson also impressed in the javelin, throwing 39.06m to secure another CUNYAC qualification.

Omari Hinds put on a dominant display in the jumps at the Wesleyan Swanson Invitational, qualifying for CUNYACs in multiple events. He placed 2nd in the High Jump with a personal-best 1.80m, 4th in the Long Jump with 6.47m, and 10th in the Triple Jump with 11.96m—all CUNYAC-qualifying marks. He also clocked a personal-best 56.11 in the 400m. His versatility and consistency continue to set him apart as a force in the field events.

Reco Griffith made an impact at the Wesleyan Swanson Invitational, securing a CUNYAC-qualifying time of 52.01 in the 400m, finishing 9th overall. His performance highlights his potential as a rising star for MEC.

Nia Butler delivered a historic performance in the field events, setting a new MEC school record and qualifying for CUNYACs in two events. She recorded a CUNYAC-qualifying mark of 9.33m in the Shot Put, set a new MEC school record in the Hammer Throw (30.32m), and achieved a personal-best of 15.20m in the Javelin. Butler's strength and consistency make her a standout competitor.

Thenica Thompson showed promise at the Wesleyan Swanson Invitational, finishing 12th in the 400m with a time of 1:04.06. Her performance signals a strong foundation for future success on the track.

The Cougars will return to action on Saturday, as the teams will travel to Easton, PA to compete in Lafayette's Leopard Invite. Start-time for the meet is scheduled for 11:00am.

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