TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Track & Field opened day one of the Willie Williams Classic at Drachman Stadium in a dominant fashion on Friday. To kick off the two-day competition, the team logged six event wins and 15 top-three finishes on the day. The jumps squad in particular saw a handful of personal bests along with a sweep in the women's long jump and a first and third-place finish in the men's long jump.
 
TOP-THREE FINISHES
Jenica Bosko – First, Women's Long Jump
Tapenisa Havea – First, Women's Shot Put
Jared O'Riley – First, Men's Javelin
Cooper Quigley – First, Men's Steeplechase
Antonia Sanchez Nunez – First, Women's 400m Hurdles
Sir Jonathan Sims – First, Men's Long Jump
Jesse Avina – Second, Men's Javelin
Ian Sanchez Lopez – Second, Men's 5000m
Sydnie Vanek – Second, Women's Long Jump
Ava David – Third, Women's Hammer Throw
Lauryn Ford – Third, Women's Long Jump
Sam Hala'ufia – Third, Men's Discus
Keilee Hall – Third, Women's 400m Hurdles
Reinaldo Rodrigues – Third, Men's Long Jump
Trayvion White-Austin – Third, Men's 200m
 
FIELD HIGHLIGHTS
The Wildcats absolutely dominated in the day's jumping events. Sir Jonathan Sims posted a huge personal best leap of 26-1.75 (7.97m) in the men's long jump to win the event. That puts Sims fourth all-time in school history. Reinaldo Rodrigues also jumped a personal best mark of 25-10 (7.87m) to place third overall and move up to sixth all-time in school history.
 
In the women's long jump, Arizona swept the podium, finishing first, second, and third in the event. Jenica Bosko won the event with a leap of 21-4 (6.50m) which matches her personal best that is also the second longest jump in school history. Freshman Sydnie Vanek, who is also on Arizona's Volleyball team, placed second in her collegiate debut with a mark of 20-2.5 (6.16m). Senior Lauryn Ford finished third overall with a personal record of 19-11.5 (6.08m), meaning all three Wildcats went over six meters on the day.
 
The Wildcats finished first and second overall in the men's javelin, with Jared O'Riley winning the event and Jesse Avina finishing runner-up. O'Riley's best throw of the day was 218-11 (66.73m) and Avina's best was a personal record of 218-5 (66.59m). In the women's javelin, freshman Aislin Martinez-Pompa placed fourth overall.
 
Tapenisa Havea won the women's shot put for his second victory in a row to start the outdoor season. Her best throw on the day was 53-7 (16.33m)
 
In the men's discus, Sam Hala'ufia posted a personal best throw of 176-9 (53.89m) to finish third overall.
 
The Wildcats started off the day with a pair of personal bests in the men's hammer throw. Michael Ogbeiwi placed fifth overall with his new personal best heave of 194-9 (59.36m). Freshman Tyler Michelini was the other Wildcat to post a PB in the event.
 
In the women's hammer throw, Ava David placed third overall with a toss of 190-4 (58.02m). She now has two top-three finishes in the event to start the outdoor season. Tapenisa Havea also posted a personal best throw in the event to finish 10th.
 
TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Antonia Sanchez Nunez had a big personal best in the women's 400m hurdles, going sub-58 seconds for the first time in her collegiate career. Her winning time of 57.75 is also ninth all-time in school history. Freshman Keilee Hall placed third overall in the event, also running a personal best time o 59.13. Additionally, Yan Vazquez finished fourth overall in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 53.12.
 
After winning the 1500m last week, Cooper Quigley grabbed his second overall win of the outdoor season in the steeplechase with a time of 9:13.30. It was the first steeplechase race of his collegiate career. Freshman Sage Patzer ran the first steeplechase of her collegiate career as well, placing seventh in the women's event.
 
To start off the day on the track, McKenna Watson clocked a new outdoor, wind-eligible personal best time of 23.68 to finish fourth overall. Freshman Jade Brown placed eighth with a personal best time of 24.17. Three more Wildcats ran personal records in the event as well: Camila Aguilar-Perez, Ava Simms, and Dakota Minor. In total, five of the seven Arizona competitors in the event ran PRs. In the men's 200m, senior Trayvion White-Austin clocked a time of 20.68 to finish third overall in his first 200m of the outdoor season. Additionally, Isaac Davis ran a time of 21.38.
 
To end the night, Ian Sanchez Lopez finished runner-up in the men's 5000m.
 
UP NEXT
The Willie Williams Classic concludes on Saturday at Drachman Stadium. The overall meet begins at 8:00 a.m. MST, with collegiate events getting underway at 10:00 a.m. MST.
 
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