Blue Raiders Show Up Strong on Day One of Commodore Challenge

1/14/2022 8:43:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country

By: Braydin Sik, MT Athletic Communications

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee track and field team had a solid start on day one of the Commodore Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt. Two Blue Raiders finished in first for their respective events and eight total finished in the top five.

Field Events
The first event of the day was the women's high jump. Abigail Kwarteng, as an unattached, took the women's high jump title in her first meet with the Blue Raiders, ending with a 1.83m jump in her third and final attempt. Regina Yeboah finished in a three-way tie for fifth, hitting her first three jumps of 1.55m, 1.60m, and 1.65m, but was unable to hit the 1.70m mark.

Kyle Teague was able to land on the board at 13^th in men's long jump, hitting the 5.04m mark on his best jump of the day.

Lyn'Nikka Vance had a fantastic day in Nashville, starting with her first-place finish in women's long jump with a personal best, 6.04m. Aker Benton and Anaiya Midget also placed in long jump, finishing with 5.73m in fifth and 5.20m in 15^th respectively.

Track Events
In the women's 200m, Vance had her second personal best of the day with a time of 24.44, good enough for second place. Right behind Vance was Glory Nyenke in third with a time of 24.91.

Three Blue Raiders made the top 15 in the men's 200m. Benjamin Onyekwelu and Darien Jones finished in seventh and eighth with times of 22.41 and 22.50 respectively. Ja'Brian Bouye hit a time of 22.92, good enough for 13^th.

Johanna Bulow took 28^th with a time of 44.37 in the women's 300m, and Michael Fuqua ran a 36.51, good enough for ninth in the men's 300m.

Lastly, the men's 1000m went well for Middle as Hillary Kimaiyo and Carmelo Cannizzaro placed third and fourth with times of 2:26.84 and 2:26.88 respectively.

Day two of the Commodore Challenge commences Saturday, January 14^th. Tomorrow's meet day is set to start at 11:00 a.m. with men's shot put and end with men's 4 x 400m relay at 4:10 p.m.

Keep up with Blue Raider track & field on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField), and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).