COLLEGE PARK, Md. - - Competing in its first event as a program on Saturday, the Wilmington University track and field team opened its inaugural season at the University of Maryland Invitational at the Kehoe Track & Field Complex.
The men's team competed in 12 events on Saturday, while the women saw action in 13 events throughout the day.
The men were led by Manuel Suero's sixth place finish in a highly competitive 400-meter race. Out of 16 finishers Manuel Suero was the top non NCAA Division I finisher, placing sixth overall with a time of 52.93. The 4x400 relay team placed fourth overall out of seven teams, as the combination of Manuel Suero, James Kennedy, Tony Tuckerfield, and Miguel Suero finished in 3:38.05.
Ellis McSharry led the short distance sprinters with ninth place finishes in the 100m and the 200m events. McSharry's first 100-meter race was completed in 11.99 seconds while his 200-meter race was completed in 23.95 seconds. The 100-meter race was won by Montgomery College's Raynard Bell's 11.03 seconds while the 200-meter race was won by Maryland's Cameron Vereen in 22.44 seconds.
In the field events, Daniel Loyo finished ninth of 13 jumpers in the long jump event, landing at 17 feet, 4.25 inches in his first collegiate jump. He also marked in his final three jumps, but nothing better than his first jump of the day. Freshman David Milan finished right behind Loyo with a jump of 17 feet, four inches.
Robbie Stofa placed seventh out of 11 shot put hurlers, getting his second attempt in play for a length of 34 feet, 11.75 inches. Stofa also threw the discus, finishing sixth overall out of nine throwers. He got his first attempt in play, throwing it 96 feet, eight inches.
In a deeper women's field, Dyonne Hicks (on left) had the Wildcats best showing with a seventh place finish in the long jump. on her first attempt, Hicks jumped a distance of 15 feet, 0.75 inches to place her seventh out of 15 qualifying jumpers. Hicks also placed fifth out of six qualifying athletes in the triple jump, landing her third attempt at 34 feet, 9.75 inches.
Hicks also ran the 100-meter race, placing 13th overall, but the fourth fastest runner in NCAA DII. She ran the event in 13.45 seconds with the winner from Delaware crossing the line at 12.07 seconds.
Julia Merritt led the Wildcats in the 800-meter event, placing 14th out of 21 runners with a time of 2:40.97. Rosemary Gilliam led the Wildcats in the 1500-meter finals, running the mid-distance event in 5:32.75 for a 15th place finish.
In the throw events, Nyree Grant finished 16th out of 20 in the shot put, getting her second attempt in play with a distance of 24 feet, 6.25 inches. Bianca Turner finished 13th out of 17 members in the discus event, getting her first attempt in play at 79 feet, three inches. Turner also competed in the hammer throw, getting her second attempt in with a distance of 82 feet, eight inches.
The Wildcats are back in action next Saturday when they head to the Patterson Field and Ursinus College to take part in the Ursinus Invitational in Collegeville, Pa.
