Cards Set Three Program Records to Cap PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational

Saturday, February 1

LOUISVILLE, KY

All Day

University of Louisville

PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational

Photo by: Caleb Jones |University of Louisville Athletics

Cards Set Three Program Records to Cap PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational

February 01, 2025 | Track & Field

Results Photo Gallery

Geoffrey Kirwa (men’s mile), Natalie Lark (women’s pole vault), and Jayden Ulrich (women’s shot put) all posted record-breaking marks on Saturday.

By: Sam Gercak

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville track & field teams closed the second and final day of competition at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational on Saturday, setting three program records and two freshman records.

Jayden Ulrich, who sent outdoor school records in the shot put and discus throw last season, captured the indoor shot put record with a mark of 18.40m (60-4.5) that currently ranks second in the NCAA and fifth in the world thus far this season. The toss bettered Emmonnie Henderson's previous program record of 18.14m that had stood since 2018, while also standing as the new facility and meet record in the event.

Natalie Lark also leapt up the national leaderboards while capturing the school record in the women's pole vault, winning the seeded section of the event with a final clearance of 4.47m (14-8). The bar ranks the senior fourth in the NCAA entering the weekend while also breaking the record of 4.46m that was set in 2022 by Gabriela Leon, who won the NCAA title in the event during the 2022 outdoor season.

Geoffrey Kirwa broke the third program record of the day for the Cardinals, shattering the previous best in the men's mile with a time of 4:00.58, finishing as the runner-up in the elite section of the event. Gustav Bendsen followed close behind with a personal-best time of 4:02.50 to place fifth in the event. Both times bettered the previous program-best time of 4:05.49 that was set in 2016 by Edwin Kibichiy, the 2017 national champion in the men's 3000m steeplechase.

In the men's heptathlon, KJ Byrd set a new freshman record with a total of 5,746 points to finish as the runner-up and move to second in program history. Byrd also leapt up to third in school history in the men's pole vault, clearing a bar of 5.25m (17-2.75), and seventh in the men's 60m hurdles with a time of 8.31. Entering the weekend, Byrd's point total ranks fifth in the NCAA and tops in the ACC.

Julia Schmitt set a freshman record of her own in the women's mile, clocking a time of 4:51.22 that bettered Temi Ariyo's previous record of 4:51.65 that was set last season and also moved the Louisville native to eighth overall in program history.

Noah Koch took the top spot in the men's shot put with a toss of 17.18m (56-4.5) after finishing as the runner-up in the weight throw on Friday. Freshman Johnny Sabinski rounded out the top three in the shot put with a new personal-best mark of 16.72m (54-10.25).

The Cards also took home two of the top three spots in the men's triple jump as Miller Jones finished as the runner-up with a mark of 15.21m (49-11) and Roman Kuleshov recorded a leap of 15.02m (49-3.5) to place third.

Kiyah Yeast, who won Friday's women's 200m, finished fourth overall in the women's 60m with a time of 7.43 after posting a preliminary time of 7.45.

The elite section of the men's high jump closed out the afternoon for the Cardinals, as Brion Stephens finished third with a clearance of 2.15m (7-0.5), a season-best for the junior.

Over the course of the weekend, the Cardinals combined for 22 top-five finishes and saw a total of 28 personal-best performances.

The Cardinals will be back in action next weekend at the Eastern Indoors which will take place on Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.

PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational – Day Two
February 1, 2025
Louisville, Ky. | Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center

* = Personal Record
(sr) = School Record
(fr) = Freshman Record
(Q) = Qualified for Finals
(T) = Tied Personal Record
F = Foul
DNF = Did Not Finish

Women's 60m – Finals
Kiyah Yeast – 7.43

Women's 60m – Semifinals
Kiyah Yeast – 7.45 (Q)
Olivia Jenkins – 7.50 (T)

Men's 60m – Semifinals
Jaidyn Johnson – 6.79
Clarence McLean – 7.00

Women's Mile – Seeded
Layla Roebke – 4:44.29 *
Lucinda Rourke – 4:53.22

Women's Mile – Unseeded
Julia Schmitt – 4:51.22 * (fr)
Lauren Bettencourt – 4:57.66
Ellie Maurer – 4:58.60 *
Haley Meade – 4:59.86 *
Brooke Lahee – 5:00.16 *

Men's Mile – Seeded
Geoffrey Kirwa – 4:00.58 (sr)
Gustav Bendsen – 4:02.50 *

Men's Mile – Unseeded
Lucas Reguinho – 4:18.78 *

Women's 60m Hurdles – Preliminaries
Keira Antoni – 9.23

Women's 4x400m Relay
Kiyah Yeast, Sophia Day, Ruby Nwosu, Jalasia Lewis – 3:46.47

Men's 4x400m Relay
Trevor Holbrook, Jaylen Cole, Elijah Porter, Ryan Farrell – 3:16.66
Adrian Johnson, Clarence McLean, Terence Jackson, JB Terrill – DNF

Men's High Jump – Seeded
Brion Stephens – 2.10m (6-10.75)
Josh Moore – 2.00m (6-6.75)

Women's Triple Jump
Sophia Day – 12.07m (39-7.25)
Rachel Darden – 12.02m (39-5.25)
Anna Panenko – F

Men's Triple Jump
Miller Jones – 15.21m (49-11)
Roman Kuleshov – 15.02m (49-3.5)
Jamaur Williamson – 14.30m (46-11)

Women's Pole Vault – Seeded
Natalie Lark – 4.47m (14-8) * (sr)
Iliana Triantafyllou – 3.92m (12-10.25)
Lydia Stuart – 3.92m (12-10.25)

Women's Shot Put
Jayden Ulrich – 18.40m (60-4.5) * (sr)

Men's Shot Put
Noah Koch – 17.18m (56-4.5)
Johnny Sabinski – 16.72m (54-10.25) *

Men's Heptathlon
KJ Byrd – 5,746 points (fr)

Men's 1000m – Heptathlon
KJ Byrd – 2:46.14

Men's 60m Hurdles – Heptathlon
KJ Byrd – 8.31 *

Men's Pole Vault – Heptathlon
KJ Byrd – 5.25m (17-2.75) *

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.