LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Vincennes University Track and Field teams once again found themselves as one of the only two-year programs competing in a meet this weekend, heading to Louisville, Ky. to take part in the 2024 PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational hosted by the University of Louisville.
The Blazers were up against several NCAA Division I programs, including athletes from Purdue University, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Florida State University, Texas Tech University and host University of Louisville.
Tough competition aside, the Trailblazers again more than held their own highlighted by five top-10 event finishes.
The VU men's track and field team was led by sprinter Desroy Jordan who took second place in the 400 meter seeded event, finishing with a time of 47.44 seconds.
Teammates Olamipo Ladipo and Zion Pruitt competed in the 400 meter unseeded event with Ladipo placing 12th with a time of 50.15 seconds and Pruitt finishing 28th at 52.62 seconds.
Those three then competed with Tumaini Skinner in the 4x400 meter relay to place eighth overall with a time of 3:16.58.
Skinner, on his own, took home 17th in the 60 meter dash at 7.24 seconds, while Cohen Gallant placed seventh in the 60 meters at 7.01 seconds.
Gallant then competed in the unseeded 200 meters and placed 26th at 23.50 seconds, while Clinton Laguerre finished 11th at 22.43 seconds.
The Trailblazers men's distance runners held their own as well, led by Cody Noel and Caden Hostetler in the 5000 meters with Noel placing 15th at 15:54.30 and Hostetler ending at 16:16.49 good for 17th overall.
Tanner Spence and Nathan Whitehead were in the mile with Spence taking 35th at 4:36.76 and Whitehead ending at 4:52.12 for 40th overall.
Bryaun Manuel and Matthew Gray then finished out the men's track side in the 800 meters with Manuel placing 38th at 2:04.70 and Gray finishing 44th overall at 2:11.56.
In the field events the VU men's team was led by Jeremiah Ziebert who placed 22nd in the shot put with a throw of 12.32 meters.
Jacob Wickman placed 28th in the shot put at 10.94 meters and took home 27th in the weight throw with a throw of 12.62 meters.
Jacob Smith rounded out the VU throwers with a toss of 10.52 meters in the weight throw, good for 34th overall.
Another major highlight of the weekend for the Blazers was courtesy of Olegs Kozjakovs who took part in his first heptathlon of the year.
Kozjakovs finished sixth overall after accumulating 5,215 points, highlighted by third place finishes in the shot put and pole vault, a fourth place finish in the long jump and a fifth place finish in the high jump.
"We told our team we were going to put them on a big stage and boy did we," VU Head Track and Field Coach Marty Rogier said. "This meet had 25 schools, seven from Division I Power Five Conferences, as well as professional athletes that were working on qualifying marks and points for World Rankings."
"I feel fortunate that we were allowed to compete as the only Junior College in one of the top ranked indoor meets in the country," Rogier added. "Based on the results and the attention we received from several of the top programs, I think we represented VU very well."
"Olegs and Desroy led the way for us," Rogier said. "Desroy took second overall in the 400 against a very talented group of sprinters in his first 400 race of the year. His time of 47.44 is the second fastest time in program history and ranks him sixth in the NJCAA."
"Olegs finished sixth in the Heptathlon, competing against some outstanding athletes from the ACC and Big 10," Rogier added. "His point total of 5,215 is second highest in program history and has him ranked number one in the NJCAA this season."
"Our sprint group posted some good marks also," Rogier said. "Cohen got through the first round of the 60m with a 7.01. Clinton, in his first meet, ran a quick 22.4 in the 200. Olamipo had another nice run in the 400 at 50.15."
"I may have gotten the most excited by the 4x400 relay," Rogiers added. "We were down a leg with Clinton not being able to run but the team of Olamipo, Tumaini, Zion and Desroy ran the fastest time in program history, 3:16.58. Eighth fastest in the NJCAA this year. Zion stepped in and really did his job. Tumaini gave us a great 48 split and Desroy closed it with a blistering 46.12."
The VU women's team was again led by an outstanding performance by Sophia Salvi in the pole vault as she finished sixth overall, clearing a height of 3.68 meters.
Sophia's sister and 2023 Indoor National Champion Julia placed 21st overall after clearing a height of 3.38 meters.
Madison Davis had a good weekend, finishing 18th in the shot put with a throw of 11.30 meters.
On the track the VU women's team was led by Zinzile Gumpo who placed 27th in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.88 seconds.
Adi Fuller and Grayson Haynes finished well in the mile run, with Fuller crossing the line at 5:29.72 for 27th overall, while Haynes finished at 6:33.33 for 35th overall.
The Trailblazers were rounded out by Jasmyn Self who placed 39th in the 800 meters, finishing with a time of 2:38.71.
"Jasmyn had a solid day with a big season PR in the 800," VU Assistant Track Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "Adi ran a PR in the mile with her first sub 5:30 time. Tanner also PRed and Nathan smashed the five minute barrier for the first time."
"Caden and Cody each ran PRs in their first 5k on the track, with Cody getting under 16 minutes," Steigenga added. "Overall, it was a great day for the team. After all of the sickness last week, we had a few more people on the distance side at this meet and should have everyone back next week. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do as we get closer to full strength as a team."
VU will look to continue to improve and rack up more National qualifiers next weekend when the Blazers split for the first time this season.
Members of the VU Track and Field teams will compete Friday, Feb. 2 in the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic in Louisville, Ky., while other members will head to Marion, Ind. for the Indiana Wesleyan Midwest Classic Saturday, Feb. 3.
"Meets like this really test an athlete and show you what you've got," Rogier said. "We had a few who were not up to competing at this level and are going to have to step up their game. But overall, I left with a good feeling of where we are. I am optimistic that once we get some of our distance crew back and healthy that this is going to be a pretty good team."
VINCENNES RESULTS
MEN'S RESULTS
60 meters
Cohen Gallant – 7, 7.01
Tumaini Skinner – 17, 7.24
200 meters unseeded
Clinton Laguerre – 11, 22.43
Cohen Gallant – 26, 23.50
400 meters seeded
Desroy Jordan – 2, 47.44
400 meters unseeded
Olamipo Ladipo – 12, 50.15
Zion Pruitt – 28, 52.62
800 meters
Bryaun Manuel – 38, 2:04.70
Matthew Gray – 44, 2:11.56
Mile
Tanner Spence – 35, 4:36.76
Nathan Whitehead – 40, 4:52.12
5000 meters
Cody Noel – 15, 15:54.30
Caden Hostetler – 17, 16:16.49
4x400 Relay
VU (Ladipo, Pruitt, Skinner, Jordan) – 8, 3:16.58
Shot Put
Jeremiah Ziebart – 22, 12.32m
Jacob Wickman – 28, 10.94m
Weight Throw
Jacob Wickman – 27, 12.62m
Jacob Smith – 34, 10.52m
Heptathlon
Olegs Kozjakovs – 6, 5,215 points
60m – 12, 7.40
Long Jump – 4, 6.82m
Shot Put – 3, 14.45m
High Jump – 5, 1.91m
60m Hurdles – 8, 8.87
Pole Vault – 3, 4.60m
1000m – 12, 3:00.99
WOMEN'S RESULTS
800 meters
Jasmyn Self – 39, 2:38.71
Mile
Adi Fuller – 27, 5:29.72
Grayson Haynes – 35, 6:33.33
60m Hurdles
Zinzile Gumpo – 27, 9.88
Pole Vault
Sophia Salvi – 6, 3.68m
Julia Salvi – 21, 3.38m
Shot Put
Madison Davis – 18, 11.30m