Okonkwo '18 sets long jump school-record at Sean Collier Invite
Nneoma Okonkwo ’18 set the MIT record in the long jump on Saturday afternoon at the Sean Collier Invitational with a best leap of 18 feet, 11.25 inches (5.77m).
Okonkwo’s performance leaves her sixth in the country currently as she prepares for championship season. Her mark was followed by Haley Strouf ’18 who jumped a personal best distance of 17 feet, 6.25 inches (5.34m) for fifth place.
Also in the field, the throwers won three events highlighted by a pair of victories by Jackie Vahey ’17 in the discus and hammer. Vahey’s discus throw went 137 feet, 0.25 inches (41.76m), while her hammer throw traveled 158 feet, 9.5 inches (48.39m). Ariela Slutsky ’18 was the second-best thrower for MIT, finishing second in the discus (132 feet, or 40.23m), and third in both the shot put (38 feet, 7.25 inches or 11.76m) and the hammer (139 feet, 4.75 inches or 42.48m).
The Engineers also claimed both vertical jumps as Natalie Alper ’17 won the high jump with a best leap of 5 feet, 4.25 inches (1.63m), while classmate Jennifer Tylock ’17 took the pole vault title for the second straight meet, clearing 11-feet, 2.5-inches (3.42m). Isabella Stuopis ’16 rounded out the list of winners of MIT as she came in first place in the shot put with a throw of 41 feet, 4.75 inches (12.61m).
On the track, Kendra Knittel ’17 ran season bests in both the 100-meter dash (12.68s) and the 200-meter dash (25.34s). Bailee Margolis ’19 had the top placement for MIT on the track as she took third in the 10,000-meter run in a time of 40:09.83.
At the Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday, Maryann Gong ’18 took fifth in the 5,000-meter run in a time of 16:43.96, a mark that stands third best in the nation. Along with Gong in the run was Nicole Zeinstra ’16, who finished 32nd in 17:54.52 and Mary Eccles ’18, who took 36th in a time of 17:58.06. Bailey Tregoning ’19 had the 64th fastest time in the 800-meter elite run with a time of 2:15.81.