Cards Pick Up Seven Event Victories at Jim Vargo Invitational

Friday, April 5

Louisville, KY

All Day

University of Louisville

Jim Vargo Invitational

McKenzie Bell competing at the Clark Wood Invitational

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Cards Pick Up Seven Event Victories at Jim Vargo Invitational

April 05, 2024 | Track & Field

Results

McKenzie Bell set a new meet record of 54.76 in the women’s 400m to lead the charge.

By: Sam Gercak

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville track & field teams tallied seven event victories and a total of 22 top-five individual finishes at the Jim Vargo Invitational on Friday.

McKenzie Bell led the way for the Cardinals by setting a new meet record time of 54.76 in the women's 400m, lowering her previous outdoor personal-best by nearly two full seconds to move into fifth in the event in program history. Ruby Nwosu followed in fourth place with a personal-best time of her own in 56.40.

The Cards also picked up an event victory on the track in the women's 200m as Olivia Jenkins clocked a time of 24.91 while running into a strong headwind. Bell doubled back after her 400m victory to claim third in 25.38 and Nwosu rounded out the top five in 25.47.

Jenkins also finished third in the women's 100m with a time of 11.94, while Louisville saw Brenton Shippy place second in 10.86 and Trevor Holbrook place third in a wind-aided 10.92 in the men's iteration of the event. Holbrook then came back later in the afternoon for another third-place finish in the men's 200m with a time of 22.31.

In the women's 1500m, Madeline Castleberry made her season debut with a second-place finish in 4:35.21, dropping over five seconds off her previous personal-best. Nicky Alexander also garnered a top-five finish in the men's 1500m, racing to a fourth-place finish in 3:54.87.

Sydney Partyka got her outdoor season started with a runner-up finish of her own in the women's 800m, battling to a time of 2:15.93.

Freshman Brooke Lahee closed out the day on the track for the Cardinals in the women's 5000m, cruising to a time of 17:21.04 to take third overall in the event.

In the field, Erik Fertig got the afternoon started with an event victory in the men's hammer throw with a heave of 60.46m (198-4), while Ethan Alyea placed third in the event with a mark of 51.95m (170-5). Demaria King made her outdoor debut with a third-place finish in the women's hammer throw, recording a mark of 50.14m (164-6).

Jorge Contreras Nazario posted a mark of 49.98m (164-0) to win the men's discus throw before finishing third in the men's shot put with a toss of 15.96m (52-4.25).

The Cards swept the triple jump events as Grigoris Nikolaou bounded to a mark of 14.63m (48-0) to win the men's triple jump and Riley Burger clinched the top mark in the women's triple jump with a personal-best jump of 12.30m (40-4.25). Burger was joined atop the podium by teammate Autumn Bell, who placed second with a mark of 11.99m (39-4).

Jayden Wayne claimed an event victory in the men's long jump in his collegiate debut, leaping to a mark of 6.96m (22-10), while Adam Axelrod placed fourth with a mark of 6.77m (22-2.5).

Lydia Stuart rounded out the day for the Cardinals in her outdoor debut, clearing 3.61m (11-10.25) to tie for third place in the event.

The Cardinals will continue their outdoor season with a split weekend out in California from Apr. 11-13 between the Bryan Clay Invitational and Beach Invitational.

For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.

Jim Vargo Invitational
April 5, 2024
Louisville, Ky. | Owsley B. Frazier Stadium

* = Personal Record
(mr) = Meet Record
(W) = Wind-Assisted
NH = No Height
F – Foul

Women's 100m
Olivia Jenkins – 11.94

Men's 100m
Brenton Shippy – 10.86
Trevor Holbrook – 10.92 (W)

Women's 200m
Olivia Jenkins – 24.91
McKenzie Bell – 25.38
Ruby Nwosu – 25.47
Taylor Boggess – 25.89

Men's 200m
Trevor Holbrook – 22.31
Adam Axelrod – 23.22
Jayden Wayne – 23.44

Women's 400m
McKenzie Bell – 54.76 * (mr)
Ruby Nwosu – 56.40 *
Taylor Boggess – 57.32

Men's 400m
Jesse Casas – 50.61

Women's 800m
Sydney Partyka – 2:15.93

Men's 800m
Jacob Puhalla – 1:53.77
JB Terrill – 1:54.49 *
Mateo Mendez – 2:02.97
Colin Lakomek – 2:08.86

Women's 1500m
Madeline Castleberry – 4:35.21 *
Lexi Raquet – 4:44.53
Rhune Vanroose – 4:46.75
Lily Storey – 4:47.37

Men's 1500m
Nicky Alexander – 3:54.87

Women's 5000m
Brooke Lahee – 17:21.04
Ainsley Taylor – 17:43.23 *
Audrey Shelton – 18:15.76
Megan John – 18:22.75

Men's High Jump
Dominic Lowe – 1.80m (5-10.75)

Women's Long Jump
Autumn Bell – 5.22m (17-1.5)
Riley Burger – 5.16m (16-11.25)

Men's Long Jump
Jayden Wayne – 6.96m (22-10)
Adam Axelrod – 6.77m (22-2.5)

Women's Triple Jump
Riley Burger – 12.30m (40-4.25) *
Autumn Bell – 11.99m (39-4)

Men's Triple Jump
Grigoris Nikolaou – 14.63m (48-0)

Women's Pole Vault
Lydia Stuart – 3.61m (11-10.25)
Lily Fleetwood – NH
Paris Bond – NH

Men's Shot Put
Jorge Contreras Nazario – 15.96m (52-4.25)

Men's Discus Throw
Jorge Contreras Nazario – 49.98m (164-0)

Women's Hammer Throw
Demaria King – 50.14m (164-6)
Carys Gossett – 39.44m (129-5)
Zoe Yeast – F

Men's Hammer Throw
Erik Fertig – 60.46m (198-4)
Ethan Alyea – 51.95m (170-5)