Men's Outdoor Track & Field 3/31/2025 1:44:00 PM

Outdoor Track & Field teams showcase incredible talent at Lafayette's Leopard Open this past Saturday

The Medgar Evers College outdoor track and field teams continued their 2025 campaigns this past Saturday, competing at Lafayette College's Leopard Open in Easton, PA. After showcasing their talents in a big way at the J. Elmer Swason Spring Classic, the Cougars put forth a plethora of dazzling performances at the Leopard Open, earning multiple CUNYAC qualifiers, setting personal records, and breaking Medgar Evers records.

Quote from Coach Reid

"The 2025 Lafayette Open marked strong national and regional caliber performances early in the outdoor season. Our team delivered 17 CUNYAC-qualifying performances, set numerous personal records (PRs), and broke three school records, showcasing our potential. We had great weather and competition, as athletes were running NCAA Division I, II, and III bests. Our athletes rose to the occasion and made history, with Reco Griffith breaking an 18-year-old record in the 100m to run the 9th best time in the country. He also broke an 18-year-old record in the 200m. This was the 2nd fastest time in Division III, but due to a 4.1 wind reading, it will only qualify him for the AARTFC regional Championships. Nevertheless, his performance was absolutely historic for the program. Additionally, Kenia Irish-Bramble set a new MEC school record in the 3000m steeplechase, combining her strength and agility. Several returning student-athletes picked up right where they left off, delivering standout performances across multiple events, like Omari Hinds in the jumps, Jahiem Johnson in the 100m who qualified for AARTFC regionals, and Chrisnel Nicolas in the throws. We are thrilled to see our athletes shine at such a high-quality meet and compete at such an elite level. While this meet was a strong statement, we know there's still more to achieve. The team's strong performances demonstrated determination and growth, setting the stage for future successes. As we continue adapting to the demands of the outdoor season, we'll remain focused on improvement and building on this momentum."

Top Performances from the Cougars

Reco Griffith delivered a stellar performance at the 2025 Lafayette Open, securing CUNYAC and AARTFC qualifying marks in two events. He placed 3rd in the 100m (10.52), setting a new MEC school record and the 9th fastest time in the country. In the 200m, he finished 2nd (21.36), breaking another MEC school record. Griffith also contributed to the 6th-place 4x100m relay (44.37, 5th all-time in MEC history) and was part of the 5th-place 4x400m relay (3:33.92).

Omari Hinds excelled in the jumps at the Lafayette Open, earning multiple CUNYAC-qualifying marks. He placed 3rd in the high jump with a personal-best 1.89m, 10th in the long jump (6.24m), and 11th in the triple jump (12.32m). Hinds also set personal bests in the 400m (55.84) and the 200m (23.12, CUNYAC qualifying). His versatility and consistency continue to make him a dominant force in field events.

Michael Ortega made an immediate impact, securing a CUNYAC-qualifying toss of 32.43m in the hammer throw, placing 9th overall. This throw was not only a personal best but also the 2nd best in MEC school history. He also set a PR in the discus (23.71m, 19th place) and threw 10.60m in the shot put (21st place), showcasing his potential in the throws.

Kenia Irish-Bramble etched her name into MEC history with a record-breaking performance. She placed 6th in the 400m hurdles (1:16.67) and 7th in the 3000m steeplechase (14:40.49), setting a new school record and qualifying for CUNYAC. She also secured 2nd place in the 5000m (23:20.80), the second-fastest time in MEC history. Her determination and record-breaking efforts continue to elevate MEC's program.

Nia Butler showcased her strength and consistency across multiple field events. She placed 15th in the shot put (8.68m), 12th in the hammer throw (26.34m), 18th in the discus (20.36m), and 12th in the javelin (13.51m). Her well-rounded performance highlights her impact as a key competitor for MEC.

Rinnah Brown made an impressive statement at the Lafayette Open. She placed 10th in the 100m hurdles (17.89), ranking 5th all-time in MEC history. She also finished 4th in the 400m hurdles with a CUNYAC-qualifying time of 1:15.33, the second-fastest in MEC history. Additionally, she threw 21.60m in the javelin, placing 10th and ranking 5th all-time in school history. Her performance signals a strong foundation for future success.

Additional Cougars Results/Feats

Jahiem Johnson ran a personal best in the 100m (10.95), placing 5th all-time in MEC school history, and qualifying for CUNYAC and AARTFC regional Championships. Additionally, he achieved a PR and CUNYAC-qualifying mark in the 200m (22.42), and in the discus (32.76m). Finally, Johnson achieved a personal record of a PR in the shot put (9.62m).
Chance Ault-Rodriguez finished 10th in the steeplechase with a time of 17:03.89.

Chrisnel Nicolas set three personal records. He placed 6th in the 400m hurdles (1:06.48, PR), 7th in the high jump (1.69m, PR), and threw a personal best and CUNYAC qualifying mark in the javelin (40.45m). He also set a PR in the long jump (5.97m), achieving another CUNYAC qualifying mark.

Joshua Felix placed 9th in the steeplechase (14:40.65).

Rupert Luard-Charles finished 7th in the 400m hurdles (1:07.80). He also placed 10th in the 400m (52.64), qualifying for CUNYAC.

Jalen Atkinson placed 7th in the 5000m (22:55.80) and 8th in the 3000m steeplechase (13:59.26, 5th all-time in MEC school history).

Zion Young-baez qualified for CUNYAC with a time of 11.41 in the 100m.

The Men's 4x100m Relay Team (Zion Young, Reco Griffith, Rupert Luard-Charles, and Jahiem Johnson) placed 6th with a time of 44.37. This mark is 5th all-time in MEC school history.

The Men's 4x400m Relay Team (Adeolu Adeyemi, Reco Griffith, Rupert Luard-Charles, and Jahiem Johnson) finished 5th with a time of 3:33.92.

Jennifer Metra recorded a personal best in the shot put with a throw of 7.09m.

Jada Lambert placed 10th in the 400m hurdles (1:25.64) and 8th in the 3000m steeplechase (18:20.71).

Saviah Williams ran a personal best in the 1500m with a time of 6:21.67.

Maritza Argueta also achieved a personal best in the 1500m with a time of 6:37.62.

Raine Williams threw a personal best in the javelin with a distance of 21.46m.

Women's 4x100m Relay Team (Jada Lambert, Jennifer Metra, Kinnik Timothy, and Keyeona Evans) placed 5th.

Next Up for the Cougars

The Cougars will return to action on Saturday, as the team will travel to Gallaudet University to compete in the Bison Classic. The meet will unfold from the Thomas O. Berg Track in Washington, DC, with a start-time of 8:30am.

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