ORLANDO – Rutgers track and field traveled back to the Sunshine State, taking part in the Knights Invite on the campus of UCF on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. Freshman pole vaulter Brian O'Sullivan shined for the Scarlet Knights as he broke the school record, earning one of four event wins and 12 top-three finishes on the weekend for RU.
 
Brian O'Sullivan won the pole vault, clearing a height of 5.28m (17' 3.75") and topped the Rutgers record which was previously set by Chris Wyckoff (5.20/17' 0.75") in 2013. He was followed by his brother Kevin O'Sullivan who finished second with a height of 5.18m (17' 0").
 
Rutgers also went 1-2 in the men's 400-meter hurdles and women's long jump. Jameson Woodell made his season debut, winning the 400 hurdles with a time of 51.14, followed by Micah Wood in second with a time of 51.42. Celine-Jada Brown won the long jump with a distance of 6.41m (21' 0.5"), while Kristina Tossas placed second with a jump of 6.39m (20' 11.75").
 
The Scarlet Knights also earned a win in the 100-meter dash from Sydney Hawkins who ran a time of 11.46.
 
On the men's side Shamali Whittle finished third in the 200-meter (21.08) and fifth in the 100-meter (10.59). Sincere Robinson finished fourth in the high jump, clearing the bar at 2.04m (6' 8.25"), while the 4x400-meter relay team of Wood, Whittle, Woodell and Bryce Tucker finished second with a time of
3:11.76.
 
Reanda Richards scored one of three second-place finishes on the women's side as she placed second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.12. The 4x100-meter relay group of Hawkins, Azariah Grantham, Jada Ellis and Cynthia Boakye finished second in the event with a time of 45.21. Richards joined Brown, Boakye and Alexandria Yarbrough in the 4x400 to run a time of 3:39.18 and finish second.
 
Alexis Willis finished fifth in the triple jump with a distance 12.41m (40' 8.75") to round out the performances for the Scarlet Knights.
 
Rutgers sent a contingent of distance runners to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Penn Challenge at Franklin Field on Saturday, March 23. The Scarlet Knights competed in the 800-meter, 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter races. Jonathan Scalia finished sixth in the 800 with a time of 1:56.66, while Jenai Berry finished seventh on the women's side in the 800 with a time of 2.18.95. Lorena David took sixth in the 3,000 with a time of 10:04.60.
 
The Scarlet Knights returned to action on March 28 through 30 for the Raleigh Relays.
 
Knights Invite
 
Men's Results
Pole Vault
1. Brian O'Sullivan                                                    5.28m (17' 3.75") – SCHOOL RECORD
2. Kevin O'Sullivan                                                    5.18m (17' 0")
 
400M Hurdles
1. Jameson Woodell                                                51.14
2. Micah Wood                                                         51.42
 
200M
3. Shamali Whittle                                                    21.08
 
100M
5. Shamali Whittle                                                    10.59
 
High Jump
4. Sincere Robinson                                                 2.04m (6' 8.25")
 
4x400M
2. Micah Wood, Bryce Tucker
Shamali Whittle, Jameson Woodell                 3:11.76
 
Women's Results
Long Jump
1. Celine-Jada Brown                                               6.41m (21' 0.5")
2. Kristina Tossas                                                      6.39m (20' 11.75")
 
400M Hurdles
2. Reanda Richards                                                  1:00.12
 
Triple Jump
5. Alexis Willis                                                           12.41m (40' 8.75")
 
100M
1. Sydney Hawkins                                                   11.46
 
4x100M
2. Sydney Hawkins, Azariah Grantham
Jada Ellis, Cynthia Boakye                                       45.21
 
4x400M
2. Alexandria Yarbrough, Celine-Jada Brown
Cynthia Boakye, Reanda Richards                         3:39.18