Canes Set Records on Day 1 at Power 5 Trailblazer Challenge
LOS ANGELES – There were just four events in action on Day 1 at the Power 5 Trailblazer Challenge Friday, but the Miami Hurricanes track and field program had an outstanding showing to kick off the meet.
The Hurricanes set two school records in the men’s throws and had two female student-athletes post marks that rank among the best in school history.
“I thought we had a great day in the throws,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “I am really excited for our throwers, from our upperclassmen with Zakiya [Rashid] and Gian [Piero Ragonesi] and our freshmen in Kevin [Arreaga] and Debbie [Ajagbe]. I think their performances today will go a long way with their confidence and set the tone of the rest for the weekend.”
Arreaga kicked off the big day with a victory in the men’s hammer throw. The freshman broke his own school record on his fifth attempt in the hammer throw, posting a mark of 69.83m. Arreaga posted four throws that measured at least 65 meters, with three surpassing the 68-meter mark.
“I feel really good after today’s competition,” Arreaga said. “I am still looking to really find myself in competition, but my marks keep improving. I am really happy with how I am progressing because that shows I am on the right path. Once I get where I want to be in competition, then I know I will get the marks I am looking to attain.”
Miami had two women place in the top three in the discus, as Rashid was second with a personal-best mark of 55.68m and Ajagbe finished third with a personal-best throw of 55.07m. The career-best throws also put Rashid in second place on Miami’s all-time top five, while Ajagbe’s mark moved her into third place in school history.
Ragonesi was the final Cane to shine on Friday, breaking his own school record in the men’s discus. The senior’s third throw of the competition was measured at a collegiate-best 58.33m and earned him a second place finish in the competition.
“It was a good competition,” Ragonesi said. “I am happy to start getting back on track and I hope to build off this performance going forward this season.”
The Power 5 Trailblazer Challenge is a two-day scored meet featuring the only five Power 5 track and field programs in NCAA Division I that have a female head coach: Miami, Tennessee, Ohio State, Ole Miss and the host USC Trojans.
Saturday’s action at USC will start at noon with the women’s high jump and women’s javelin, as well as the women’s 3000m.
Fans can follow the meet via live results by clicking HERE or watch a live stream by clicking HERE.
The Power 5 Trail Blazer Challenge will be held at Loker Track Stadium on the USC campus on Saturday. The 3,000-seat stadium opened in the 2001 season and was dedicated on May 5 during the USC-UCLA dual meet. General admission for adult spectators costs $10, while youth ages 3-12 and seniors ages 65+ will be changed $5. Admission is free for those under three-years old.
Following this weekend’s action, the Hurricanes will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to compete at the Florida Relays from March 29-31. To view the complete Miami Track and Field schedule for the 2018 season, click here.
For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @MiamiHurricanes, or “Like Us” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @CanesTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram.
