Louisville Track & Field Shines at 2024-25 Season Opener with Six Event Wins

0

The University of Louisville track and field teams opened their 2024-25 indoor season with an impressive performance at the Louisville Opener on Wednesday afternoon. Competing against Kentucky and Texas, the Cardinals earned 23 podium finishes, six event victories, and 25 personal-best performances at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.

The day began and ended with standout efforts in the women’s pentathlon, where sophomores Lucy Fellows and Maya Follmer delivered personal-best scores. Fellows claimed first place with 3,947 points, moving to second in program history, while Follmer’s 3,645 points secured third and placed her fifth all-time at Louisville.

In the field events, Louisville dominated, winning both pole vault competitions. Senior Natalie Lark cleared a personal-best 4.30m (14-1.25) to win the women’s pole vault, and Cade DeWitt triumphed in the men’s pole vault with a mark of 5.03m (16-6).

The Cardinals swept the podium in the men’s long jump, led by Grigoris Nikolaou, who achieved a personal-best 7.15m (23-5.5) for the win. Teammates Roman Kuleshov (7.13m, 23-4.75) and Miller Jones (7.02m, 23-0.5) followed in second and third, respectively.

On the track, freshman Lucinda Rourke made her mark by winning the women’s mile in 4:41.40, moving to second in school history, while teammate Layla Roebke took second with a time of 4:49.73, now fifth all-time at Louisville. Ryan Farrell added another victory for the Cardinals in the men’s 600m, clocking a personal-best 1:18.49, the second-fastest time in program history.

Other notable performances included freshman Jaidyn Johnson’s runner-up finish in the men’s 60m (6.76) and Kiyah Yeast’s second-place finish in the women’s 60m with a personal-best 7.37. In the 500m, McKenzie Bell and Elijah Porter placed second in the women’s and men’s races, respectively, while freshman Jalasia Lewis earned third in her debut.

Field highlights featured Jade Whitfield’s runner-up finish in the women’s weight throw with a personal-best 19.50m (63-11.75) and Josh Moore’s silver in the men’s high jump at 2.00m (6-6.75).

The meet concluded with strong relay performances as the women’s 4x400m team of McKenzie Bell, Ruby Nwosu, Sophia Day, and Kiyah Yeast placed second in 3:41.05, while the men’s team of Trevor Holbrook, Jaidyn Johnson, Elijah Porter, and Adrian Johnson finished third in 3:16.91.

Louisville’s strong showing at their season opener sets the tone for an exciting 2024-25 campaign, with five more home meets to follow.

Louisville Opener

December 11, 2024

Louisville, Ky. | Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center

* = Personal Record 

(Q) = Qualified for Finals

DNF = Did Not Finish

NH = No Height

DQ = Disqualified

Women’s 60m – Prelims 

Kiyah Yeast – 7.43 (Q)

Olivia Jenkins – 7.52 (Q)

Synclair Savage – 7.59 (Q)

Chelsea Williams – 7.63 (Q)

Zylah Sturdivant – 7.72 (Q)

Maya Taylor – 7.82 (Q)

Women’s 60m – Finals

Kiyah Yeast – 7.37 *

Olivia Jenkins – 7.50

Synclair Savage – 7.57

Chelsea Williams – 7.62

Zylah Sturdivant – 7.77

Maya Taylor – 7.79

Men’s 60m – Prelims 

Jaidyn Johnson – 6.82 (Q)

Men’s 60m – Finals 

Jaidyn Johnson – 6.76

Women’s 300m

Zylah Sturdivant – 39.19

Ruby Nwosu – 41.20

Nia Booker – 41.40

Olivia Jenkins – 41.83

Men’s 300m

Trevor Holbrook – 34.80 *

Women’s 500m

McKenzie Bell – 1:13.26

Jalasia Lewis – 1:17.44

Men’s 500m

Elijah Porter – 1:04.77

Adrian Johnson – DQ

Men’s 600m

Ryan Farrell – 1:18.49 *

Dylan Christian – 1:21.59 *

JB Terrill – 1:23.12 *

Jacob Puhalla – 1:24.91

Women’s Mile

Lucinda Rourke – 4:41.40 *

Layla Roebke – 4:49.73

Julia Schmitt – 4:59.33

Men’s Mile

Innocent Ntwali – 4:17.56

Ethan Meyer – 4:18.52

Spenser Wolf – 4:18.76 *

Forest MacKenzie – 4:24.01 *

Women’s 5000m

Brooke Lahee – 17:05.51

Ellie Maurer – 17:38.69

Audrey Shelton – 18:06.74

Lexi Raquet – DNF 

Women’s 4x400m Relay

McKenzie Bell, Ruby Nwosu, Sophia Day, Kiyah Yeast – 3:41.05

Chelsea Williams, Nia Booker, Jalasia Lewis, Zylah Sturdivant – 3:47.29 

Men’s 4x400m Relay

Trevor Holbrook, Jaidyn Johnson, Elijah Porter, Adrian Johnson – 3:16.91

Ryan Farrell, Dylan Christian, Jacob Puhalla, JB Terrill – 3:32.05

Men’s High Jump

Josh Moore – 2.00m (6-6.75)

Women’s Long Jump

Sophia Day – 5.96m (19-6.75) *

Rachel Darden – 5.81m (19-0.75) *

Anna Panenko – 5.67m (18-7.25)

Autumn Bell – 5.27m (17-3.5)

Men’s Long Jump

Grigoris Nikolaou – 7.15m (23-5.5) *

Roman Kuleshov – 7.13m (23-4.75)

Miller Jones – 7.02m (23-0.5)

Jamaur Williamson – 6.73m (22-1)

Women’s Pole Vault

Natalie Lark – 4.30m (14-1.25) *

Paris Bond – 4.05m (13-3.5) *

Iliana Triantafyllou – 4.05m (13-3.5)

Lydia Stuart – 3.75m (12-3.5)

Men’s Pole Vault

Cade DeWitt – 5.03m (16-6)

Lucas Couron – NH 

Women’s Weight Throw

Jade Whitfield – 19.50m (63-11.75) *

Carys Gossett – 16.38m (53-9)

Demaria King – 15.60m (51-2.25)

Women’s Pentathlon

Lucy Fellows – 3,947 points *

Maya Follmer – 3,645 points *

Women’s 800m – Pentathlon

Lucy Fellows – 2:23.47 *

Maya Follmer – 2:26.37 *

Women’s 60m Hurdles – Pentathlon

Maya Follmer – 8.84 *

Lucy Fellows – 8.92 *

Women’s High Jump – Pentathlon

Lucy Fellows – 1.64m (5-4.5) *

Maya Follmer – 1.61m (5-3.25) *

Women’s Long Jump – Pentathlon

Lucy Fellows – 5.77m (18-11.25)

Maya Follmer – 5.60m (18-4.5) *

Women’s Shot Put – Pentathlon

Lucy Fellows – 12.29m (40-4) *

Maya Follmer – 9.34m (30-7.75) *