CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. and COLUMBIA, S.C. – Billy Hill, Chloe Timberg and Jessica Molina each set a school record over the weekend, highlighting several outstanding performances for Rutgers track and field at the Virginia Challenge and UofSC Open.
 
"Great to see another three records broken," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Bobby Farrell. "We also had several athletes rise up the all-time top-10 lists. We have a lot of work ahead of us as we prepare for the Big Ten Championships in three weeks but this week should be a fun one as we return to Penn Relays after a three year hiatus due to Covid."
 

SCHOOL RECORDS

 
Hill got the record setting weekend started, breaking his previously held record in the 1,500-meter on Friday at the Virginia Challenge on the campus of the University of Viriginia. He ran 3:42.57, shaving two seconds off the time he set the week prior at the Larry Ellis Invitational in Princeton.
 
Timberg shattered her previously held school record, clearing a height of 4.53m (14' 10.25") at the UofSC Open Saturday. She originally set the mark in the season opener at the Black and Gold Invitational. Molina recorded a throw of 57.61m (189') in the hammer, breaking a school record that was set nearly 23 years ago in 1999.
 

TOP-FIVE FINISHES

On the women's side, Shelby Whetstone gave the Scarlet Knights an event win in the 800-meter, running 2:10.85. Mackenzie Presume followed in third with a time of 2:12.82. Michelle Coyotl-Varela posted a second-place time in the 3,000-meter, running 10:12.50. The other top-five finishes on the track came from the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. The group of Charlee Crawford, Shelby Whetstone,
Shanelle Colmon and Reanda Richards finished fourth in the 4x400 with a time of 3:44.07. They also placed fifth in the 4x100 in 45.47.
 
In the field events, the women picked up two more top-five finishes in addition to the pole vault and hammer throw performances. Claudine Smith took second in the triple jump with a leap of 12.23m (40' 1.5"), while Alivia Ash was third in the high jump with a height of 1.65m (5' 5") and Kristina Tossas placed fifth in the long jump with a mark of 5.67m (18' 7.25").
 
The men's team was guided by eight top-five performances at the UofSC Open. A'nan Bridgett led a trio in the long jump as he finished second with a leap of 7.71m (25' 3.5"), followed by Sincere Robinson in third with a jump of 7.58m (24' 10.5") and Jabari Higgs-Salaam in fifth in 7.33m (24' 0.75"). Bridgett also ran the 100-meter, clocking a time of 10.36. Steven Coponi took third in the javelin with a throw of 60.76m (199' 4") to round out the field events.
 
Christopher Hill took third in the 800-meter, running a time of 1:53.63, while Patrick Walsh finished fifth in the 1,500-meter with a time of 3:55.92. Nadale Buntin, Aaron Black, Micah Wood and Taj Burgess joined to run the 4x400 relay, placing fifth with a time of 3:15.82.
 

NEXT UP

 
Rutgers will gear up for the Penn Relays beginning on Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30.
  
Men's Individual Results
1,500M – Virginia Challenge
5. Billy Hill                                     3:42.57 – SCHOOL RECORD
 
UofSC Open
100M
5. A'nan Bridgett                          10.36
9. Louis Akpadago                       10.45
16. Nadale Buntin                        10.58
 
200M
8. Nadale Buntin                          21.23
 
400M Hurdles
6. Micah Wood                            52.61
 
800M
3. Christopher Hill                       1:53.63
 
1500M
5. Patrick Walsh                           3:55.92
 
4x400M
5. Nadale Buntin, Aaron Black,
Micah Wood, Taj Burgess                            3:15.82
 
Javelin
3. Steven Coponi                         60.76m (199' 4")
 
Long Jump
2. A'nan Bridgett                          7.71m (25' 3.5")
3. Sincere Robinson                    7.58m (24' 10.5")
5. Jabari Higgs-Salaam                7.33m (24' 0.75")
 
Discus Throw
8. Kamron Kobolak                      47.65m (156' 4")
 
Women's Individual Results
800M
1. Shelby Whetstone                  2:10.85
3. Mackenzie Prezume               2:12.82

100M
9. Sydney Hawkins                  11.58
 
1500M
7. Brooke Riedy                            4:38.31
 
3000M
2. Michelle Coyotl-Varela          10:12.50
 
4x100M
5. Sydney Hawkins, Shanelle Colmon,
Ajae Alvarez-Tyler, Dennisha Page             45.47
 
4x400M
4. Charlee Crawford, Shelby Whetstone,
Shanelle Colmon, Reanda Richards            3:44.07
 
Triple Jump
2. Claudine Smith                        12.23m (40' 1.5")
 
Pole Vault
3. Chloe Timberg                         4.53m (14' 10.25") – SCHOOL RECORD
 
High Jump
3. Alivia Ash                                  1.65m (5' 5")
 
Hammer Throw
4. Jessica Molina                          57.61m (189') – SCHOOL RECORD
 
Long Jump
5. Kristina Tossas                         5.67m (18' 7.25")