Track & Field Claims Third-Straight Combined Season Sweep at BIG EAST Championships
BIG EAST Outdoor Championships Final Results
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The University of Connecticut men's and women's track & field teams dominated the three-day competition at the 2024 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships Presented by JEEP. With the championship win, the Huskies have collected their third-straight BIG EAST combined season sweep starting in 2022.
In the team score, the Huskies finished first with a combined score of 497.83 points. The UConn men earned their ninth outdoor championship win with 22 total conference championships in program history. On top of that, the men finished with a monstrous 287.5 points scored over 22 events. Villanova and Butler placed second and third with 162 points and 121.5 points, respectively.
The UConn women earned their fifth outdoor championship and their 12th conference championship victory. The women put up an impressive first-place score of 210.33 points. Villanova and DePaul placed second and third, respectively; with 162 points and 121.5 points.
In total, there were 75 top-five results, 44 medals, eight personal records, and 11 first-place finishes. In the multi-events, Diarmuid O'Connor led the way in the decathlon with an astounding 7,630 points making that his personal best along with winning in six events. Alyssa Elliott took on the heptathlon with some vengeance totaling 5,003 points and placing first in five events.
Also, on the men's side in the long jump, three Huskies placed 1,2, and 3. Kasey Savage in the long jump (1st, 7.30m), Marc Morrison (2nd, 7.27m), Richmond Kwaateng (3rd, 7.23m). Then, on the final day of competition, the men ran away with the trophy. Mawali Osunniyi in the high jump (1st, 2.11m), Kasey Savage (T-2nd, 2.03m), Dar Jankovic (T-2nd, 2.03m). Soon after, Patrick Oatman broke his personal best in the pole vault with a 4.96m mark and Travis Snyder took silver with a 4.86m result. Mekhi Stone also won gold in the 400 meters with an impressive time of 47.13 seconds.
Additionally, on the women's side, the women's pole vaulters showed out taking 1,2, and 3. Kalli Knott in PV (1st, 3.93m), PR for Rachel Mason (2nd, 3.83m), Sofia Wittmann (3rd, 3.73m). Then, in the 3,000m steeplechase Rachael Woodruff ran a strong performance running a personal best of 10:19.76.
On the final day of competition for the women, Chloe Thomas got UConn pushing away from the competition with a UConn school record in the 1500m running 4:15.43. To add, the 4x400 relay team with Jalah Cooper, Mia Powell, Anna Connors, and Jessica Starr won bronze and ran a season best time of 3:41.89.
A strong outing for the Huskies with another masterful performance for the third straight year in the BIG EAST.
At BIG EAST Championships
Day 1
For the men:
In men's decathlon, PR for Diarmuid O'Connor in HJ (1st, 1.96m), PR for 400m (1st, 48.39) , in LJ (1st, 7.23m) leads with 4,057 points after five events, in second place with 3,739 points is Josh Mooney; in 100m (1st, 10.94)
Alex Krause in HT (2nd, 56.16m), Travis Roux (3rd, 56.12m)
For the women:
In women's heptathlon, PR for Alyssa Elliott 100mH (1st, 14.72), PR in SP (1st, 10.87m), PR in 200m (2nd, 25.95) leads with 2,979 points after four events, in second place with 2,974 points Katelyn Reid; HJ (1st, 1.60m)
Natalia Surdej in HT (2nd, 59.06m), Emily Alty (5th, 50.86m)
Patricia Mroczkowski in HJ (4th, 1.70m)
PR for Caroline Towle (3rd, 34:53.91)
Day 2
For the men:
In decathlon, PR for Diarmuid O'Connor scored 7,610 points with PR in 110mH (3rd, 14.94), PR in DT (1st, 39.32m), PR in PV (1st, 4.45m), in 1500m (1st, 4:31.99), in second place is Joshua Mooney with PR of 7,306 points three 1st place results in 110mH (1st, 14.13), PR in JT (1st, 63.69m), in third place is Michael Johnson with PR of 6,250 points, and in fourth place is Dar Jankovic with PR of 6,179 points with 1st place result in HJ (2.05m)
PR for Connor Hayford in JT (2nd, 67.19m), Max Ringwall (4th, 55.95m), Gabriel Fountain (5th, 52.63m)
Kasey Savage in LJ (1st, 7.30m), Marc Morrison (2nd, 7.27m), Richmond Kwaateng (3rd, 7.23m), Kyle Johnson (5th, 7.06m)
Chris Lepore in 3,000m Steeplechase (3rd, 8:54.58)
Travis Martin in 5,000m (4th, 13:56.00)
For the women:
In women's heptathlon, Alyssa Elliott (1st, 5,003 points; first place finishes in LJ (5.40m), JT (32.94m), and 800m (2:19.47), in second place was Katelyn Reid with 4,580 points and Audrey Kozak in fourth with 3,998 points
A'liyah Thomas in LJ (1st, 5.97m), Jasmine Barrow (3rd, 5.89m)
Brynn Madonna in JT (2nd, 44.86m), Caitlin Dumouchel (3rd, 40.23m)
Kalli Knott in PV (1st, 3.93m), PR for Rachel Mason (2nd, 3.83m), Sofia Wittmann (3rd, 3.73m)
PR for Rachael Woodruff in 3,000m Steeplechase (3rd, 10:19.76)
Day 3
For the men:
Mawali Osunniyi in HJ (1st, 2.11m), Kasey Savage (T-2nd, 2.03m), Dar Jankovic (T-2nd, 2.03m), Dante Bailey (5th, 1.93m)
Nicholas Connolly in SP (2nd, 16.19m), Garrett McHeard (3rd, 15.78m), Jack Foster (4th, 15.77m), Tyler Lyon (5th, 14.40m)
Josh Mooney in 110mH (2nd, 14.17), Donovan Wright (4th, 14.66)
Mekhi Stone in 400m (1st, 47.13)
Joseph O'Brien in 100m (3rd, 10.60), PR for Noble Gongon (4th, 10.62), Damon Simpson (5th, 10.71)
PR for William Watson in 400mH (5th, 54.81)
Damon Simpson in 200m (4th, 21.60), Joseph O'Brien (5th, 21.66)
Travis Roux in DT (1st, 51.41m), Garrett McHeard (3rd, 47.87m), Nicholas Connolly (4th, 45.63m), Jack Foster (5th, 45.03m)
PR for Patrick Oatman in PV (1st, 4.96m), Travis Snyder (2nd, 4.86m), Max Ringwall (4th, 4.11)
Kyle Johnson in TJ (1st, 15.43m), Joron Harrell (3rd, 14.78m), Kasey Savage (4th, 14.68m)
Highest total points scored in conference history with 287.5 points
For the women:
In 4x100m relay with Jaia James, Brianna Davis, A'liyah Thomas, and Jailya Ash (2nd, 45.68)
PR for Chloe Thomas in 1500m (3rd, 4:15.43)
A'liyah Thomas in 100mH (3rd, 13.82), Jailya Ash (4th, 13.99)
Emily Alty in DT (5th, 47.27m)
PR for Anna Connors in 400m (3rd, 54.58)
Gabby Davis in 400mH (3rd, 1:01.08), Jessica Starr (4th, 1:01.56)
Anna Connors in 200m (5th, 24.44)
Jasmine Barrow in TJ (1st, 12.75m), Zayin Roe (3rd, 12.29m), Felicia Quainoo (5th, 11.81m)
SB 4x400 Relay with Anna Connors, Gabby Davis, Jessica Starr, Jalah Cooper (3rd, 3:41.89)
210.33 points scored, 1st