UConn Track & Field Shines at the 129th Penn Relays
Philadelphia, PA – This past weekend, UConn’s track and field team showcased their talent and determination at the 129th Penn Relays, putting on an incredible display over three action-packed days of competition.
Women’s Field Events: A Showcase of Talent
Hammer Throw Highlights
- Natalia Surdej from Lancaster, NY, delivered a strong performance, securing 6th place in the college women’s hammer throw championship with an impressive mark of 58.67m.
- In a thrilling competition, Maresa Hense from Germany leaped into 5th place in the women’s long jump championship, achieving a distance of 5.88m.
Men’s Field Events: Setting the Bar High
- Travis Roux from Northport, NY, made waves in the hammer throw, finishing 6th with a throw of 59.82m. Notably, he also set a personal best in discus, achieving 52.19m.
- Following close behind, Alex Krause of Coventry, CT, placed 10th in the hammer throw with 57.87m.
- Marc Morrison from Orlando, FL claimed 4th place in the long jump, soaring to 7.47m, while Kasey Savage of Horsham, PA followed with a respectable 6th place finish at 7.41m.
- In a remarkable feat, Patrick Oatman from Amston, CT, cleared 5.00m in the pole vault, earning his spot in the program’s all-time top 10.
Women’s Track Performance: Breaking Records
Hurdles and Middle-Distance Excellence
- Jessica Starr, representing Cobalt, CT, not only set a personal best in the 400m hurdles with a blistering time of 59.56 seconds, but also recorded the 2nd best time in program history.
- Jenna Zydanowicz from West Hartford, CT, shined in the 1500m, clocking in at 4:18.03—the 3rd fastest time in outdoor program history.
- Sarah Trainor, with a standout performance in the 3000m steeplechase, finished in 10:05.46, marking the 2nd fastest time in UConn history.
- Chloe Trudel from Amherst, NH, also achieved a personal best in the 5000m, finishing at 16:34.51.
- The Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team, featuring Malin Rahm (Schaffhausen, Switzerland), Caroline Rice (Saint Johns, FL), Calista Mayer (Tolland, CT), and Faith Kiplimo (Eldoret, Kenya), delivered a stunning performance with a time of 11:26.62, ranking as the 2nd fastest in program history.
- The Sprint Medley Relay (SMR) team, consisting of Audrey Kozak (Shelton, CT), Mackenzie Braunstein (Willimantic, CT), Gabby Davis (Franklin Park, NJ), and Rice, also impressed with a time of 4:05.07, making it to the program’s top 10.
Men’s Track: Personal Bests and Historic Times
- Griffin Mandirola from Suffield, CT, secured a personal best in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing with 8:56.08, marking the 5th fastest time in UConn history.
- The talented quartet of Brendan Kovar (Rockaway, NJ), Mekhi Stone (Smyrna, GA), Del Lindsay (Jersey City, NJ), and OJ Singletary (Rochester, NY) recorded a stellar 3:09.66 in the 4x400m race, standing as the 3rd fastest time in program history.
- Terell Williams from Maplewood, NJ, showcased his skills by finishing 4th in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.96 seconds.
Director’s Reflection on a Successful Weekend
“The Penn Relays 2025 didn’t disappoint! We had an amazing weekend, with so many breakthrough performances and top 10 marks for our history books,” said Beth Alford-Sullivan, Director of Track & Field. “It was a great celebration of our sport on a worldwide level. Now we will focus on being healthy, getting through finals, and being prepared for the BIG EAST championship at home!”
What’s Next for the Huskies?
The excitement continues as the Huskies will return to action at the Jay Carisella Coaches Invitational on May 3rd, hosted by Northeastern University.
For more details on UConn’s triumph at the Penn Relays and upcoming events, stay connected to UConn Huskies here.
Stay tuned for more thrilling updates as our teams strive for excellence on the track!
