Byrd Resets Pole Vault Freshman Record as Cards Close Out Regular Season

Saturday, May 3

College Station, TX

All Day

University of Louisville

Alumni Muster

KJ Byrd clears the pole vault bar at the 2025 Jim Click Shootout & Multis

Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics

Byrd Resets Pole Vault Freshman Record as Cards Close Out Regular Season

May 03, 2025 | Track & Field

Results (Jim Green Invitational)Results (Alumni Muster)

The postseason will begin with the ACC Outdoor Championships which are slated for May 15-17 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

By: Sam Gercak

The University of Louisville track & field teams closed out their regular season on Saturday at Kentucky's Jim Green Invitational and Texas A&M's Alumni Muster, led by KJ Byrd's freshman-record mark of 5.20m (17-0.75) in the men's pole vault.

Over the course of the weekend, the Cards tallied four event victories to go with a total of 12 top-three finishes while seeing nine personal-best performances.

More detailed information on both meets can be found below.

JIM GREEN INVITATIONAL
The Cardinals got their second and final day in Lexington started with two event victories, as Soledad Jean posted a final clearance of 1.75m (5-8.75) to win the women's high jump and Jade Whitfield notched the top mark in the women's discus throw with a toss of 54.50m (178-10) to pick up her first event victory in a Louisville uniform.

The Cards also got solid performances in the field from Noah Koch, who finished as the runner-up in the men's shot put with a heave of 17.90m (58-8.75), and Josh Moore, who placed fifth in the men's high jump after clearing a bar of 1.99m (6-6.25).

On the track, Nancy Chepleting recorded her first collegiate win in the women's 5000m with a time of 16:41.01 while Emma Heckel finished fifth in the event in 16:59.31.

Additionally, the women's 4x100m relay team of Olivia Jenkins, Kiyah Yeast, Ruby Nwosu, and Chelsea Williams covered the length of the track in 45.71 to finish third in the event.

ALUMNI MUSTER
The Cards were well-represented in both the men's and women's pole vault events in College Station, getting four top-five individual finishes, three of which came in the men's pole vault.

Ty McPhail and KJ Byrd both cleared a final bar of 5.20m (17-0.75) to finish second and third respectively, while Cade DeWitt finished fourth with a mark of 5.00m (16-4.75).

Byrd's mark set a new Louisville freshman record in the event, breaking the previous record of 5.13m (16-10) that was set by McPhail at the 2022 ACC Outdoor Championships. The mark also gives Byrd his second outdoor freshman record after totaling 7,349 points in the men's decathlon at the Jim Click Shootout & Multis from April 4-5.

Ashley Callahan closed out the weekend for the Cards with a fourth-place finish in the women's pole vault after recording a mark of 4.16m (13-7.75).

Next up, the Cardinals will begin their postseason at the ACC Outdoor Championships, which are set to take place from May 15-17 on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Jim Green Invitational – Day Two
May 3, 2025
Lexington, Ky. | University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility

* = Personal Record
F = Foul
DNF = Did Not Finish

Women's 400m
Jalasia Lewis – 57.09 *

Men's 400m
Trevor Holbrook – 49.87
Elijah Porter – 49.97

Men's 800m
JB Terrill – 1:51.84

Women's 5000m
Nancy Chepleting – 16:41.01
Emma Heckel – 16:59.31
Lexi Raquet – 17:09.38
Audrey Shelton – 17:57.06
Ellie Maurer – DNF

Women's 100m Hurdles
Keira Antoni – 14.54

Women's 4x100m Relay
Olivia Jenkins, Kiyah Yeast, Ruby Nwosu, Chelsea Williams – 45.71

Women's High Jump
Soledad Jean – 1.75m (5-8.75)

Men's High Jump
Josh Moore – 1.99m (6-6.25)

Women's Triple Jump
Anna Panenko – F

Men's Triple Jump
Roman Kuleshov - F

Men's Shot Put
Noah Koch – 17.90m (58-8.75)
Johnny Sabinski – 15.52m (50-11)

Women's Discus Throw
Jade Whitfield – 54.50m (178-10)

Alumni Muster
May 3, 2025
College Station, Texas | E.B. Cushing Stadium

* = Personal Record
(fr) = Freshman Record

Women's Pole Vault
Ashley Callahan – 4.16m (13-7.75)

Men's Pole Vault
Ty McPhail – 5.20m (17-0.75)
KJ Byrd – 5.20m (17-0.75) * (fr)
Cade DeWitt – 5.00m (16-4.75)
Lucas Couron – 5.00m (16-4.75)

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.