TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Track & Field completed day one of the Willie Williams Classic on Friday.
 
The Wildcats saw multiple event wins, top three finishes, and personal bests on day one of the competition at Drachman Stadium. Youssef Koudssi won the men's discus, Mackenna Orie won the women's shot put, Antonia Sanchez Nunez won the women's 400m hurdles, and McKenna Watson won the women's 200m. Watson clocked a time of 23.10 in her 200m win which ranks second all-time in school history.
 
TOP THREE FINISHES
Youssef Koudssi – First, Men's Discus
Mackenna Orie – First, Women's Shot Put | Second, Women's Hammer Throw
Antonia Sanchez Nunez – First, Women's 400m Hurdles
McKenna Watson – First, Women's 200m
Jesse Avina – Second, Men's Javelin
Brooklyn Hanania – Second, Women's 5000m
Zach Landa – Second, Men's Discus
Gideon Mengich – Second, Men's 5000m
Ian Sanchez Lopez – Second, Men's 1500m
Yan Vazquez – Second, Men's 400m Hurdles
Jade Brown – Third, Women's 200m
Laina Friedmann – Third, Women's 1500m
Keilee Hall – Third, Women's 400m Hurdles
Tapenisa Havea – Third, Women's Shot Put
 
FIELD HIGHLIGHTS
Seniors Youssef Koudssi and Zach Landa finished one and two in the men's discus. Koudssi won the event with a throw of 187-7 (57.18m) which came on his first attempt. Landa finished runner-up with a personal best mark of 185-6 (56.54m). Additionally, Sam Hala'ufia finished seventh in the event.
 
Mackenna Orie led the way for the Wildcats in the women's shot put, winning the event with a throw of 52-5.5 (15.99m). Tapenisa Havea finished third overall with a mark of 50-10.75 (15.51m) and Lauryn Love placed fifth with a toss of 49-0.75 (14.95m).
 
Mackenna Orie also finished runner-up in the women's hammer throw with a heave of 180-0 (54.87m), which came on her first throw of the competition. Tapenisa Havea also placed eighth in the event.
 
Jesse Avina placed runner-up in the men's javelin with a throw of 228-2 (69.55m). Avina's best throw came on his last attempt of the competition, and his last three throws all surpassed 68m.
 
The Wildcats had a trio of personal bests in the men's hammer throw. Michael Ogbeiwi placed fifth overall with a PR heave of 208-3 (63.48m), which is 10th all-time in school history. Zach Landa finished sixth with a PR mark of 196-9 (59.98m) and Tyler Michelini finished eighth with a PR throw of 187-6 (57.15m). Former Wildcat and NCAA Champion Jordan Geist won the event outright with a mark of 242-2 (73.81m).
 
Erin Tack finished fifth overall in the women's javelin with a throw of 143-11 (43.87m). Aislin Martinez-Pompa placed seventh in the event with a throw of 142-2 (43.34m).
 
In the men's high jump, Levi Tuura placed ninth overall with a personal best clearance of 6-4.75 (1.95m).
 
TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
The Wildcats had a flurry of personal bests in the women's 200m, led by McKenna Watson. Watson won the event with a personal best time of 23.10, which moves her to second all-time in school history in the event. She has now won back-to-back 200m competitions to open the outdoor season. Jade Brown finished third overall, matching her personal best time of 23.60. Additionally, Ava Simms (24.15), Taylen Wise (24.19), Dakota Minor (24.30), Presley Money (24.32), and Alexandra Johnson (24.80) all ran personal best times in the event.
 
Antonia Sanchez Nunez won the women's 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 57.54 in her season debut for the event. Overall, four Wildcats finished in the top 6 in the event. Keilee Hall placed third with a time of 59.75, Brooke Nordman finished fourth with a time of 1:00.16, and Cecelia Woods placed sixth with a personal best time of 1:00.60.
 
Yan Vazquez finished runner-up in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 51.18. It was Vazquez's season opener in the event.
 
Ian Sanchez Lopez placed second overall in the men's 1500m, clocking a time of 3:47.30. Additionally, Cooper Quigley placed eighth in the event and Mateo Pimienta finished 10th with a personal best time.
 
In the women's 5000m, freshman Brooklyn Hanania clocked a time of 17:27.60 to place second overall. In the men's 5000m, Gideon Mengich finished runner-up with a time of 14:29.52. Michael Urbanski placed fifth overall in the event as well with a personal best time.
 
Freshman Laina Friedmann placed third overall in the women's 1500m with a time of 4:34.72.
 
In the men's 200m, Tyson Tippett (21.20) placed 10th overall and Brian Limage (21.23) finished 11th. Zach Extine ran a personal best time in the event of 21.39 as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Willie Williams Classic continues Saturday at Drachman Stadium. High school events begin at 8:00 a.m. MST, collegiate field events start at 10:00 a.m. MST, and collegiate running events begin at 11:05 a.m. MST. Live results can be found here.
 
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