Flagstaff, Ariz. – The University of Arizona track and field program opened its 2018 season at the Friday Night Duels, hosted by NAU on Friday.
"I thought we had a fairly successful first meet," said head track and field coach
Fred Harvey. "We thought this would be a great opportunity to get some game film and see where our folks are at. We had some really good performances across the board. I am really excited about where our female sprinters are at, and all of our 400-meter people ran awesome today."
Freshman
Jordan Geist threw the No. 2 shot put mark in the country, No. 1 freshman mark, in his collegiate debut. The freshman threw a 19.45m (63' 9.75") mark to earn first place honors. Geist tabbed a first place finish in the weight throw with a mark of 18.28m (59'. 11.75")
"I thought it was good to get this one out of the way," said throws coach
T.J. Crater. "He definitely got a little excited, but that is his first meet, he is a freshman despite him being who he is. We saw some good things this week, we saw some great things in warm ups, and I expect some really big things in the next couple weeks as he gets into his rhythm, and into his grove of competing again."
"(Geist) is who he is," Harvey added, "and who we thought he was and had a great day. He's not real pleased with how he did today because he wants more, and that's an exciting thing."
Savaughn Christman finished first in the 200-meter dash clocking a time of 24.37 and second in the 60-meter dash clocking a time of 7.60.
Brena Andrews finished first in the 60-meter dash clocking a time of 7.56 and third in the 200-meter dash clocking a time of 24.54.
Pamela White clocked a time of 24.87 in the 200-meter dash.
Diana Gajda finished second in the 400-meter dash clocking a time of 54.59 and
Tatum Waggoner finished third clocking a time of 54.66.
Zakee Washington earned a first place finish in the 400-meter dash clocking a time of 47.62,
Umajesty Williams finished third with a mark of 48.54.
Tiana Bonds finished second in the 60-meter hurdles clocking a time of 8.66.
Katelin Warren finished first in the 800-meter run.
Karla Teran finished first in the high jump, clearing 1.78m (5' 10"),
Alyssa Thompson finished second.
Viktor Gardenkrans finished second in the shot put event.
Bryant O'Georgia and
Justice Summerset cleared 2.10m (6' 10.75") to take first and second, respectively, in the high jump.
The 4x400-meter women's relay team consisting of Gajda, Andrews, Warren, and Waggoner earned first place honors. The men's 4x400-meter relay team consisting of
Daniel Egbo, Washington,
Justin Alexander, and Williams also earned first place honors.
Up next, the Cats will travel to Iowa City, Iowa to compete in the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Friday January 19th.
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