COLUMBIA, S.C. – With a new year, a new season commences as JU traveled to compete in the Carolina Challenge hosted by the University of South Carolina. The Dolphins completed day one with sixteen top-10 finishes and four first-place finishes.
Adja Sackor continued where she left off as she placed first in the triple jump with a distance of 12.54m. She is following up a year in which she qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials in that very event. This opening weekend additionally brought Sackor a second-place finish in the long jump with a distance of 5.76m.
Joining Sackor in the long jump, freshman Keviah Ealy began her JU career with a third-place finish and a distance of 5.74m. Another freshman top-10 finish can be found in the triple jump event as Sela Gur-Arie covered a distance of 10.84m. Both are great early signs for the future of JU and this upcoming season.
Continuing her reign in the circle, junior thrower Alyssia Richard scored an eighth-place finish in the challenge of the shot put with a toss of 12.75 meters. Showing depth in her abilities, Richard also placed seventh in the weight throw with 15.18m. Rounding out the field events, JU had a first-place finish in the weight throw event as another junior thrower in Alana Lecointe threw for a distance of 16.85m.
JU also excelled in track events as well. Taking a win in the 200m, the Dolphins were led by first-place finisher Alexis Williams (24.47) who was followed by a third-place finish for Precious Ogba (24.95), and a tenth-place finish for Keturah Bulford-Trott (25.48).
In the 400m, two more top-10 finishes would come from the efforts of Precious Ogba (56.92) once again and freshman, Nicole McKenzie (57.62). The positive runs did not end there, however, as the Dolphins would capture a win in the 800m as well. Sadie Morris led all runners with a time of 2:14.21, followed two spots behind was Anna Greentree (2:17.19), and just a few more spots would land Emma Sullivan (2:19.05)
To round out the track events, the consistent JU record-holder and senior, Hayleigh Palotti would take just 5:06.57 to complete a 1M run, good for sixth place.
Jacksonville closed out their weekend on day one of the Carolina Challenge with all their entries completing their missions on Friday, the 21st. Their next meet will be in one week as they travel to Clemson, South Carolina for the Bob Pollock Invitational on January 28th.
Be sure to follow along via Twitter (@jax_xctf) and behind the scenes on Instagram (@jax_xctf) to stay up to date and view exciting content of the track and field team all season long.
