TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Track and Field wrapped up their last home meet of the season before the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday with the Desert Heat Classic at Drachman Stadium. Meanwhile, Jordan Geist competed in his hometown state of Pennsylvania at the Penn Relays, where he broke the meet record and won the men's shot put championship. Back in Tucson, the Wildcats had a multitude of top-three finishes, along with some new additions to the school's all-time top-10 lists. The senior awards presentation highlighted the meet, as 17 Arizona seniors were honored for their hard work and dedication to the program.
 
Those seniors included Talie Bonds, Katie Daily, Dominic Gehr, Jordan Geist, Grace Hala'ufia, Brigid Hanley, Peyton Heiden, Neysia Howard, Sailor Hutton, Jacorey Jones, Meggie Karp, Ajaysha Lewis, Alexa Porpaczy, Diana Ramos, Xahria Santiago, Skylar Sieben, and Jeffrey Sillers. The meet was kid's day with the running of the annual Fastest Kid in Tucson race.
 
"The Desert Heat Classic turned out to be the kind of meet that we expected it to be," said Head Coach Fred Harvey. "It's one of the top track and field competitions at this time in the world and we had great performances from our Arizona athletes. The whole idea of this meet is to start priming us to get ready for the conference championships and we nailed it with some great performances today."
 
TOP-THREE FINISHES
Jordan Geist – First, Men's Shot Put Championship at the Penn Relays (20.92m, 68 - 7.75)
Alexa Porpaczy – First, Women's Collegiate High Jump  (1.83m)
Talie Bonds – First, Women's Collegiate 100m Hurdles (12.95)
Jenica Bosko – Second, Women's Collegiate Long Jump (6.45m, 21-2)
Emma Gates – Second, Women's Collegiate High Jump (1.78m, 5-10)
Tanner Kippes – Second, Men's Collegiate Pole Vault (4.97m, 16-3.5)
Zach Landa – Second, Men's Collegiate Shot Put (19.92m, 65-4.25)
Meggie Karp – Second, Women's Collegiate 5000m (17:46.53)
Jordan Geist – Third, Men's Hammer Throw Championship at the Penn Relays  (71.71m, 235-3)
Ava David – Third, Women's Collegiate Hammer Throw (59.30m, 194-6)
Talie Bonds – Third, Women's Collegiate High Jump (1.78m, 5-10)
Men's 4x100m Relay Team – Third, Men's Collegiate 4x100m Relay (39.61)
Sir Jonathan Sims – Third, Men's Collegiate Long Jump (7.55m, 24-9.25)
Youssef Koudssi – Third, Men's Collegiate Shot Put  (19.45m, 63-9.75)
Trayvion White-Austin – Third, Men's Collegiate 200m (20.62)
 
PENN RELAYS FIELD HIGHLIGHTS
Jordan Geist got the opportunity to compete in his hometown state of Pennsylvania at the Penn Relays and the senior thrower did not disappoint. Cheered on by his family and friends, Geist won the men's shot put championship on Saturday with a meet record throw of 20.92m (68-7.75), breaking the previous record of 20.84m (68-4.5) set in 2006.
 
For his efforts, Geist was awarded the Penn Relays Wheel Plaque after being named an individual event Athlete of the Meet. He also received the gold watch for winning the event in a competitive field, maintaining his streak of victories in the shot put against collegiate throwers this season. Additionally, the Pennsylvania native now holds the Penn Relays' records for both the high school and collegiate shot put.
 
Geist opened up the Penn Relays on Thursday with the men's hammer throw championship, where he placed third overall with a heave of 71.71m (235-3) in another very competitive field where a Penn Relays hammer throw meet record was set. After both competitions, Geist still remains the national leader in both the shot put and the hammer throw.
 
DESERT HEAT FIELD HIGHLIGHTS
Even without Jordan Geist, the Wildcats had a pair of impressive performances in the men's shot put. Zach Landa posted a massive personal best in the event with a heave of 19.92m (65-4.25) to finish second overall. That PR mark is fourth all-time in Arizona school history and currently tied for seventh in the NCAA. Additionally, Youssef Koudssi placed third overall with a near-PR throw of 19.45m (63-9.75) to follow up his Arizona all-time top-10 performance from last week.
 
The Arizona women dominated the high jump, finishing first through fourth among collegiate competitors and second through fifth overall. Alexa Porpaczy led the way, matching her personal best mark with a clearance of 1.83m (6-0). She was followed by Emma Gates who posted a PR clearance of 1.78m (5-10), Talie Bonds who also jumped 1.78m (5-10), and Paris Mikinski who had a personal best clearance of 1.73m (5-8). Senior Diana Ramos, who competed unattached, also finished seventh overall with a jump of 1.73m (5-8).
 
Jenica Bosko finished second among collegiate competitors and third overall in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.45m (21-2) which is right around her personal best. Additionally, Sir Jonathan Sims placed third overall in the men's long jump with a mark of 7.55m (24-9.25).
 
Tanner Kippes finished runner-up in the men's pole vault after clearing a height of 4.97m (16-3.5). Additionally, Jacob Kauffman placed 10th overall in the event. In the women's pole vault, Malaya Abueg posted a personal best clearance of 3.60m (11-9.75).
 
Ava David started off the day for the Wildcats in the women's hammer throw. David placed third among collegiate competitors and fifth overall with a heave of 59.30m (194-6).
 
Youssef Koudssi placed fourth among collegiate competitors (fifth overall) and Zach Landa finished fifth (sixth overall) in the men's shot put. Koudssi's best throw on the day was 57.27m (187-1) and Landa's best was 54.11m (177-6). Additionally, senior Dominic Gehr posted a personal best throw in the event while competing unattached.
 
In the women's discus, Tapenisa Havea finished fifth among collegiate competitors and sixth overall with a throw of 50.39m (165-4). Then in the women's shot put, Havea finished in sixth place with a throw of 16.07m (52-8.75). Mackenna Orie placed eighth with a toss of 15.92m (52-2.75).
 
To end the night, Jared O'Riley finished fifth overall in the men's javelin with a throw of 65.28m (214-2). Erin Tack also improved her personal best to 45.13m (148-0) in the women's javelin.
 
In the women's triple jump, Esther Akinlosotu placed seventh and Avery Segura finished ninth with a PR leap.
 
DESERT HEAT TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Talie Bonds continued her dominance in the women's 100m hurdles, winning the event for the fourth week in a row. The senior and Drachman Stadium record holder in the event clocked a time of 12.95 on her way to victory. In her last home meet, Ajaysha Lewis ran a personal best time of 13.90 in the event as well.
 
Trayvion White-Austin had a big-time performance in the men's 200m, clocking a personal best time of 20.62 which puts him tied for sixth all-time in the event in Arizona school history. White-Austin finished third among collegiate competitors and fifth overall. Additionally, James Onanubosi ran a time of 20.96 to finish eighth among collegiate competitors and 10th overall. The Wildcats also had three competitors improve their personal bests in the event: Reinaldo Rodrigues, Brayden Hasher, and Joseph Green.
 
In senior Neysia Howard's last home 200m event, she finished with a near-PR time of 23.48 to place fourth among collegiate competitors and sixth overall.
 
In the men's 4x100m relay, the team of Trayvion White-Austin, Brian Limage, Carl Hicks, and James Onanubosi placed third among collegiate teams and fourth overall with a time of 39.61. Arizona's team of Neysia Howard, Jenica Bosko, Lauryn Ford, and Esther Akinlosotu finished fourth overall in the women's 4x100m relay with a time of 44.51, just narrowly missing their season-best time.
 
Senior Meggie Karp finished second overall in the women's 5000m in her last home meet at Drachman.
 
In the men's 400m, Isaac Davis clocked a big personal best time of 46.13 to finish fifth among collegiate competitors and seventh overall. That PR puts him eighth all-time in Arizona school history in the event. Brayden Hasher ran a PR time of 47.97 in the event as well.
 
In the women's 400m hurdles, senior Xahria Santiago clocked a time of 58.41 in her final home meet. She finished third among collegiate competitors and fourth overall.
 
Trayvion White-Austin finished with a time of 10.30 in the men's 100m, placing fifth among collegiate competitors and seventh overall. Additionally, James Onanubosi finished eighth among collegiate competitors and 10th overall in the event with a time of 10.40. In the women's 100m, Lauryn Ford clocked a time of 11.87 right around her personal best.
 
Iker Sanchez Lopez finished fourth overall in the men's 1500m with a time of 3:45.40. Additionally, Ian Sanchez Lopez (3:46.59), Logan Marek (PR 3:49.22), and Cooper Quigley (PR 3:50.83) finished seventh, eighth, and ninth overall in the event. Senior Jeffrey Sillers also clocked a personal best time of 3:56.52, going sub-four minutes for the first time in his last home meet. In the women's 1500m, Sailor Hutton finished eighth overall with a time of 4:28.68. Additionally, Beatrice Honebrink clocked a big 20-second PR in the event, running a time of 4:40.34.
 
Alisa Lyesina finished fifth overall for the Wildcats in the women's 800m with a time of 2:08.30.
 
Brandon Bounds finished his first collegiate 3000m steeplechase, becoming the first Wildcat to complete a steeplechase event this year.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will now turn their focus to the Pac-12 Championships on May 12-14 back at Mt. SAC and Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif.
 
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