LANDOVER, MD. – The UMBC women’s track and field team placed third and the men’s team placed fourth at the Terrapin Invitational, Saturday afternoon at the Prince George’s Sports Complex in Landover, Md.
The women finished behind only Maryland and Hampton at the regional meet, thanks to multiple event wins.
Freshman Mercedes Jackson (Huntington, Md./Huntington) won the 60m dash for the fourth time in four meets this season. The rookie, who owns the UMBC school record (7.50), finished in 7.60.
Junior Amanda Deller picked up her first win of the season, claiming first in the shot put with a throw of 13.88m (45’6.5”). She also finished fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 16.06m (52’8.25”)
Sophomore Kirsten Jones (Brentwood, Tenn./M.L.K. Magnet) and freshman Brianna Young (Bowie, Md./Eilizabeth Seton) put in a strong effort, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively, in the 200m.
The Retrievers picked up two more top-10 finishes as Jones and sophomore Deborah Adelola (Lanham, Md./Bladensburg) finished third and fourth in the 400m.
Freshman Mary Katherine Kulp (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) once again put her name in the UMBC record book as she finished sixth in the 800m, and places ninth on the all-time list with a time of 2:20.51.
Senior Imani Colbert (Upper Marlboro, Md./C.H. Flowers) and junior Chowan Brightful (New Market, Md./Linganore) also placed in the top-10, claiming fourth and seventh, respectively, in the 60m hurdles.
Mid-year transfer Chris Nash made an immediate impact for the Retrievers, claiming gold in the weight throw. In his first meet for UMBC, Nash set a personal-best with a throw of 16.92, which places him fourth on UMBC’s all-time list. Nash’s throw also qualifies him for the IC4A meet in March.
Senior Josh Hewitson (New Market, Md./Linganore) claimed bronze in the 400m with a time of 50.56, while sophomore Andrew Smith (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) placed fifth in the 600m (1:24.25). Freshman Eric Schuler (Fulton, Md.) also had a top-10 finish, placing fifth in the 3000m.
In the pole vault, junior Sean Kshimetski (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) set a new personal-best, 4.40m (14’5.25), and now claims tenth by himself on UMBC’s all-time list.
The Retrievers return to action next weekend when the squad splits up to take part in the Patriot Games at George Mason and the Penn State Nationals in State College, Pa.
