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) *