IOWA CITY— At the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational hosted by the University of Iowa Saturday, Central College men’s track and field senior Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) broke the program’s all-time record in the men’s 60-meter hurdles.

Meyer clocked in at 7.92 seconds, the fastest time by any Division III athlete so far this season. He’s the first Dutch athlete to go under the eight-second mark. He placed third in the meet behind a pair of Hawkeyes.

Men’s triple jumper Kale Purcell (fifth year, Holton, Kan.) also matched the school record with a leap of 48 feet, 6 inches to win the meet.

Alivia Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) ran the second-fastest women’s 800 meters time in school history, crossing the line in 1 minute, 37.81 seconds. She placed fifth.

In the women’s 60-meter prelims, Ava Parkins (junior, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame HS [Iowa]) clocked in at 7.70 seconds to share second place on the program’s all-time list. It also makes No. 8 nationally. She didn’t run the finals after qualifying in seventh. She also finished third in the 300 meters in 39.55 seconds.

Mary Gustason (senior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) was third in the women’s 200 meters in 26.10 seconds.

Central will reset after the student’s winter break with the Dutch Athletics Classic the next competition on January 16, 2026.

 

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – On Friday and Saturday, the University of Hartford men’s indoor track & field team competed in their first two-day meet of the season placing in 2nd out of 11 teams in the Art Kadish Invitational hosted by Southern Connecticut State University. 

Rapid Recap:

• Senior Destinee Majett (Brick Township, N.J.) headlined the Hawks throwing for a massive personal best in the women’s weight throw taking second place hitting a distance of 15.09 meters. Majett moved to third all-time in the event in program history with the throw. 
• Junior Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) would also make her mark in the meet breaking the meet record for the pentathlon with a score of 3292. 
• Senior Madison DiPasquale (Wallingford, Conn.) finished second in the women’s shot put event hitting 12.33 meters. 
• Freshman Caroline McGinnis (Windsor Locks, Conn.) placed 8th in the women’s long jump at a distance of 4.85 meters. 
• Freshman Jaya Pichay (South Windsor, Conn.) had a great showing in the 55 meter dash. Pichay finished the preliminaries in 4th place at a time of 7.47, before racing to a 5th place finish in the event at a personal best time of 7.43. 
• Freshman Leah Valentino (Beacon Falls, Conn.) placed in first for the Hawks in the 600 meter at a time of 1:50.20. 
• In the 55 meter hurdles event junior Caroline Crocker (Bernardston, Mass.) placed in second at a time of 8.48 seconds which was a new school record. Sophomore Tamara Greene (Hartford, Conn.) followed in fourth place at a time of 8.67 seconds. 
• Freshman Maeve McGinnis (Windsor Locks, Conn.) scored points in the high jump competition coming in second clearing a height of 1.55 meters. 

Up Next: 

The Hawks will head to winter break returning to action on January 24th, competing at Wesleyan University. 

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

GORHAM, Maine – The Saint Joseph’s College men’s track and field team turned in a statement performance at the USM Alumni Open on Saturday, highlighted by two school records from freshman standout Stephen Pierre, a relay victory, and multiple New England Division III qualifying marks in the jumps and hurdles. 

“We brought great energy and effort today and were rewarded with some impressive marks. Our ability to cover events with talent and depth continues to grow and will be a key to our success at the conference level,” said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

“The caliber this group is competing at right now makes me incredibly proud,” added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. “To be dropping school-record performances on just meet two of the season speaks to how bought-in they are. I’m excited to see the work they put in over winter break and where that momentum takes us when we come back at the start of the new year.”

SPRINTS AND RELAYS

Junior Jacob Schmader (Limington, Maine) and senior Noah Batoosingh (Scarborough, Maine) led a strong effort in the 300 meters, finishing third (36.82) and fifth (37.57), respectively, to pace the sprint group on the flat 200-meter oval.

Freshman Eli Benjamin (Rochester, N.H.) competed in the 55-meter dash, clocking 7.01 in the prelims to place ninth overall in a tight field.

Saint Joseph’s grabbed a win on the track in the 4×200-meter relay, as Batoosingh, sophomore John Read, freshman Eli Benjamin, and Schmader combined to run 1:34.17, crossing the line first and continuing the early-season momentum from the Elm City Classic.

In the 4×400-meter relay, the quartet of junior Aidan Mills (Ontario Center, N.Y.), sophomore Isaac Keresey (Pittsfield, Maine), junior Emilson Zoccolo (Lewiston, Maine), and sophomore Harrison Fields (Gray, Maine) placed second in 3:42.01, closing the meet with another strong relay showing for the Monks.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE

Senior Brayden Grant (Rochester, N.H.) turned in a solid performance in the 500 meters, placing fifth in 1:18.19.

In the 1000 meters, Mills led the way with a fourth-place finish in 2:55.79, followed by Fields in eighth at 3:03.49 and senior Kyle Benson (Biddeford, Maine) in ninth at 3:12.55, as the Monks continued to build depth through the middle-distance group.

Keresey posted one of the top distance marks of the day, finishing second in the mile with a time of 4:31.81, while Zoccolo added a 13th-place finish in 5:07.57.

In the 5000 meters, senior Jacob Pelletier (Augusta, Maine) clocked 16:04.76 to place fifth, and teammate Alexey Seredin (Peaks Island, Maine) ran 16:49.95 for 11th, giving Saint Joseph’s a strong presence in the longest event of the day.

HURDLES

The 55-meter hurdles proved to be a major highlight and a key event for the Monks.

Pierre, competing in his first collegiate hurdles meet, broke the school record and placed second in the final in 7.98, hitting the New England Division III provisional standard. Read followed in third at 8.01, also meeting the provisional standard, as the pair delivered a big 2–3 finish in the final.

The prelims were equally impressive, with Pierre (8.17), Read (8.21), and junior Tudum Monday (Lewiston, Maine) (8.24) all achieving New England Division III provisional qualifying times, giving Saint Joseph’s three hurdlers at championship-caliber level just two meets into the season.

JUMPS

Pierre produced another breakout performance in the long jump, where he broke his own school record and won the event with a mark of 6.81m (22′ 4.25″), an automatic qualifier for the New England Division III Championships. His series also included jumps of 6.78m and 6.71m, showcasing impressive consistency at a high level. Junior Devonte Prom (Portland, Maine) added a strong fifth-place finish at 5.75m (18′ 10.5″).

In the triple jump, Monday won the event with a mark of 13.03m (42′ 9″), good for a New England Division III provisional qualifying performance. Junior Christopher Godefroy (Windsor Locks, Conn.) placed fifth at 11.64m (38′ 2.25″), while Peters finished seventh with a best of 10.96m (35′ 11.5″). 

In the high jump, Benjamin continued his strong start by clearing 1.83m (6′ 0″) for second place, while sophomore Martinho Codo (Lewiston, Maine) jumped 1.73m (5′ 8″) to finish fourth. 

THROWS

The Monks’ young and deep throws group continued to gain momentum across both the shot put and weight throw.

In the shot put, sophomore Anthony Vasquez (Westbrook, Maine) led the way with a ninth-place finish at 10.07m (33′ 0.5″), followed by senior Alexander Greslick (Windham, Maine) in 10th at 9.80m (32′ 2″). Freshman Brandt Bishop (Marblehead, Mass.) threw 9.10m (29′ 10.25″), classmate Daven Duquette (Berlin, N.H.) recorded 9.07m (29′ 9.25″), and fellow freshman Cameron Gonyer (Berlin, N.H.) added a mark of 7.99m (26′ 2.75″). Junior Gabryel Balch (Strafford, N.H.) rounded out the group at 7.31m (23′ 11.75″).

In the weight throw, Vasquez placed fifth with a throw of 9.75m (32′ 0″), Gonyer finished sixth at 9.73m (31′ 11.25″), and Duquette took seventh with 9.60m (31′ 6″). Greslick added an eighth-place mark of 9.48m (31′ 1.25″), while Balch finished 10th at 9.09m (29′ 10″), giving Saint Joseph’s five athletes over nine meters and valuable early-season depth in the event.

FULL RESULTS

Men’s 55 Meters

Men’s 300 Meters

Men’s 500 Meters

Men’s 1000 Meters

Men’s 1 Mile Run

Men’s 5000 Meters

Men’s 55-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)

Men’s 55-Meter Hurdles (Finals)

Men’s 4×200-Meter Relay

• Batoosingh, Read, Peters, Schmader – 1:34.17 (1st)

Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay

• Mills, Keresey, Zoccolo, Fields – 3:42.01 (2nd)

Men’s High Jump

Men’s Long Jump

Men’s Triple Jump

Men’s Shot Put

Men’s Weight Throw

GORHAM, Maine – The Saint Joseph’s College women’s track and field team continued its impressive start to the 2025-26 indoor season at the USM Alumni Open on Saturday, collecting three school records, three event victories on the track, and three New England Division III provisional qualifying performances.

“We brought great energy and effort today and were rewarded with some impressive marks. Our ability to cover events with talent and depth continues to grow and will be a key to our success at the conference level,” said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

“The caliber this group is competing at right now makes me incredibly proud,” added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. “To be dropping school-record performances on just meet two of the season speaks to how bought-in they are. I’m excited to see the work they put in over winter break and where that momentum takes us when we come back at the start of the new year.”

SPRINTS AND RELAYS

The Monks showed depth in the short sprints, advancing two to the final in the 55 meters. Sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) and freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) finished seventh (8.08) and eighth (8.09), respectively, after running 8.02 (Leech) and 7.98 (Jones) in the prelims. Junior Alexis Cowan (Nottingham, N.H.) clocked 8.07, freshman Kaitlin Tallman ran 8.13, and first-year Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) posted 8.31 to round out a strong preliminary group.

In the 200 meters, freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) placed second in 27.37, hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, while Jones added a seventh-place finish in 28.87.

The Monks swept both relays on the day. In the 4×200-meter relay, the quartet of Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine), Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine), Jones, and Tallman posted a winning time of 1:53.49. The 4×400-meter relay of Bella Koepsell (Falmouth, Maine), Alexia Young (Rochester, N.H.), Cheri Willems, and Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) closed the meet with another victory, clocking 4:30.61.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE

Freshman Amber Pendleton continued her strong start to the season with a school-record performance in the 500 meters, winning the event in 1:27.86. Willems followed with a third-place finish in 1:34.57, giving Saint Joseph’s two of the top three spots.

In the 300 meters, junior Ava Smart broke the school record, placing third in 44.07, just ahead of Bilodeau, who finished fourth in 44.86.

Senior Alexia Young collected a runner-up finish in the 1000 meters, posting a time of 3:31.00, while Koepsell ran to second place in the mile in 5:48.35.

HURDLES

Sophomore Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) turned in a solid performance in the 55-meter hurdles, placing fourth in 10.60 to add more points for the Monks’ track group.

JUMPS

The vertical and horizontal jumps again proved to be a strength for Saint Joseph’s.

In the high jump, Miller cleared 1.47m (4′ 9.75″) to finish second, while junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) cleared 1.37m (4′ 6″) for fifth.

The long jump saw Cowan lead the way with a seventh-place finish at 4.74m (15′ 6.75″). Sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) followed in eighth at 4.68m (15′ 4.25″), while Tallman placed 13th (4.55m / 14′ 11.25″). King (3.97m / 13′ 0.25″) and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (3.59m / 11′ 9.5″) rounded out the Monks’ long jump contingent.

Bean and sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine) powered a huge day in the triple jump, combining for a 1–2 finish and two championship-caliber marks. Bean won the event with a school-record leap of 10.72m (35′ 2″), hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, while Labrie took second at 10.65m (34′ 11.25″), also surpassing the provisional mark.

THROWS

Leech led the Monks in the shot put with a best of 10.19m (33′ 5.25″), followed by sophomore Jemima Kabangu at 9.72m (31′ 10.75″). Freshman Grace Cunningham (Burnham, Maine) threw 8.71m (28′ 7″), and junior Haley Lang recorded a mark of 7.99m (26′ 2.75″).

Cunningham highlighted the weight throw with a 10.74m (35′ 3″), while Lang added a mark of 7.77m (25′ 6″) as the Monks’ throwers continued to build on their early-season progress.

FULL RESULTS

Women’s 55 Meters

• Emma Jones – 7.98 (prelims, 7th) / 8.09 (finals, 8th)

• Ellie Leech – 8.02 (prelims, 8th) / 8.08 (finals, 7th)

• Alexis Cowan – 8.07 (prelims, 9th)

• Kaitlin Tallman – 8.13 (prelims, 10th)

• Hallye King – 8.31 (prelims, 13th)

Women’s 200 Meters

Women’s 300 Meters

Women’s 500 Meters

Women’s 1000 Meters

Women’s Mile

Women’s 55-Meter Hurdles

Women’s 4×200-Meter Relay

• Bilodeau, Smart, Jones, Tallman – 1:53.49 (1st)

Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay

• Koepsell, Young, Willems, Pendleton – 4:30.61 (1st)

Women’s High Jump

Women’s Long Jump

Women’s Triple Jump

• Olivia Bean – 10.72m (35′ 2″) (1st, school record, NE DIII provisional)

• Ella Labrie – 10.65m (34′ 11.25″) (2nd, NE DIII provisional)

Women’s Shot Put

Women’s Weight Throw

• Grace Cunningham – 10.74m (35′ 3″) (13th)

• Haley Lang – 7.77m (25′ 6″) (19th)
  
   

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Photos: Wisconsin volleyball hosts North Carolina in NCAA Tourney second round

LEXINGTON — Top-seeded Kentucky volleyball defeated third-seeded Creighton in three sets Saturday at Historic Memorial Coliseum to advance to the NCAA Tournament National Semifinal.

Brooklyn DeLeye led the Wildcats in kills with 18. Lizzie Carr led the team in blocks (five). And Kassie O’Brien led UK with 40 assists.

Kentucky will battle the winner of No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Wisconsin on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for a spot in the national championship game. It’ll be UK’s second Final Four and first since it won the 2020 NCAA championship.

The Wildcats will return to the court Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri, for their Final Four match.

Click here to learn more.

Coverage during the match:

The Wildcats complete the sweep over the Bluejays, becoming the first team to secure a spot in Kansas City, Missouri, for the national semifinals.

There have been seven ties and three lead changes in this set. Ten of the Wildcats’ 15 points came from kills. DeLeye leads all players with 16, followed by Hudson’s 12 and Thigpen’s eight. DeLeye also has three blocks, tied with Washington and one behind Carr.