Track & Field Earns Three Wins at Sykes & Sabock Challenge

Saturday, February 4

University Park, Pa.

10:30 A.M.

James Madison University

Sykes & Sabock Invitational

Sofia Terenziani vs VMI Winter Classic 012723

Track & Field Earns Three Wins at Sykes & Sabock Challenge

2/4/2023 7:15:00 PM | Track & Field

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – James Madison track & field registered three event victories and a trio of runner-up finishes at the Sykes & Sabock Invitational on Saturday at the PSU Multi-Sport Facility.

JMU had wins from sophomores Jordyn Henderson in the 60m hurdles (8.45) and Holly Mpassy in the 500m run (1:15.43), and senior Rachel Lloyd in the pole vault (3.60m). Henderson's 8.45 clip was a career-high as she becomes the second-fastest individual in the event in program history. Meanwhile, Mpassy's time in the 500m race moved her into seventh all-time at JMU.

How it Happened
Track Events

Henderson won the 60m hurdles prelims in 8.53 seconds, besting Binghamton's Jenna Chan by .01 to claim the top spot for finals. Senior Skyla Davidson also qualified for the finals with her time of 8.875, good for sixth place.
In the final, aside from Henderson's victory, Davidson elevated two spots to take fourth with an improved personal-best time of 8.77.
In the 60m dash, Kaia Putman secured the eighth and final spot in the final with a preliminary time of 7.84 seconds. She ran over a tenth faster in the final, as her time of 7.74 placed her fourth in the 60, tying her career best.
In the mile race, JMU produced a pair of top-five finishers, as sophomore Sofia Terenziani was fourth in 4:59.13, while Faithe Ketchum followed in fifth with her personal-best time of 5:01.08. Senior Clare Morelli also took eighth in a career-best 5:03.25.
The 500m run was dominated by the Dukes, as they took first, second and fourth place. Following first-place finisher Mpassy (1:15.43), freshman Kadence Wilson was a tenth of a second back in second with a time of 1:15.70. Senior Arianna Eberly took fourth in 1:18.89.
In the 800m race, JMU turned in a pair of top-10 finishes with junior Mary Milby in eighth (2:16.75) and senior Sinead Sargeant in ninth (2:17.03).
In the four-person 3000m run, senior McKenzi Watkins crossed the line in 10:42.71, good for third place.
In the final race of the weekend, JMU's squad of Eberly, Wilson, Sargeant, and Mpassy took runner-up in the 4x400 with a time of 3:50.54. That mark was .48 off the lead pace from Binghamton.

Field Events

In the long jump, JMU had three top-10 finishers. Davidson led the Dukes in fourth place with a leap of 5.80m (19' 1/4"). She was followed by Wilson's sixth-place showing (5.45m (17' 10.5")) and Isabella Bogdan's ninth-place finish (5.19m).
Additionally, Davidson's leap of 5.80m gives her the second-furthest
The Dukes took the top-two spots in the pole vault, with Lloyd and junior Erica Moolman each reaching 3.60 meters (11' 9 3/4").
JMU rounded out the field events with the high jump, as junior Alex Kwasnik finished tied for fourth by clearing a jump of 1.69 meters.

Quoting Director Delethea Quarles
"State College was cold outside but the Dukes were hot on the track. Our multi-event student-athletes started our team's momentum at the VMI Winter Relays on Friday. Bethany Biggi led the way with an season-best score. All progressing as Head Coach Ron McCown planned. Today the sprint crew doubled up on a few events with remarkable drops in their times and personal-best from both Henderson (8.45) and Davidson (8.77) in 60m hurdles. Kaia Putman followed with her best time in the 60m dash finding a way to be explosive, fast, and intentional. Our other events that remained consistent were the field event student-athletes, 200m, 3000m, miler, and Alex Kwasnik in the high jump. Lastly, Davidson tried her speed down the long jump runway with an impressive lifetime best of 19' 1/4". The 4x400m relay closed the meet with our best time this season 3:50.54 qualifying for ECAC's. It was a great day for the Dukes."

Up Next
JMU returns to action next weekend for a pair of events. The Dukes will travel to Lynchburg on Feb. 10 for Liberty's Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, while also competing Feb. 10-11 in Boston at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, hosted by Boston University.