WEST CHESTER, Pa. - - The Wilmington University men's and women's track and field teams each collected a top five finish at the Bill Butler Invitational on Saturday at the Golden Rams' John A. Farrell Stadium.
The men finished fourth out of 19 scoring teams with 87 points while the women picked up 52.83 points to finish fifth out of 21 scoring teams.
The day was highlighted by a new women's program record in the long jump, as Temi Mustapha led a distance of 5.32 meters. Not only did she set the WilmU program record, she also earned the women's team 10 points with a first place finish.
Eliza Hildreth and Mustapha finished back-to-back in the 100-meter, as Hildreth placed third overall with a 12.58 and Mustapha fourth with a 12.68 to bring the team 11 more points combined. The duo then again earned points in the 200-meter race, with Hildreth placing third overall with a 26.56 for six points and Mustapha set a new season's best with a time of 26.93 for fifth place and 3.5 points.
Deja Curry gave the Wildcats three more points with a sixth place finish, running a season's best 1:03.27. Angie Chomo ran a season's best 17.34 in the 100-meter hurdle event, finishing in seventh place for two team points. She then performed another season's best in the 400-meter race, finishing in fourth overall with a time of 1:11.54 for five points.
The 4x400-meter relay team picked up three more points with a sixth place finish with a time of 4:31.02, rounding out the track events that picked up team points.
Aniyah Bond had the team's best discus throw of the day, finishing in sixth overall with a distance of 30.72 meters for three points. Viviana Caamano set a new team best this season in the hammer throw, finishing third overall with a distance of 39.98 meters for six more points.
Trinity Brittingham (14.48 seconds) and Amber Washington (14.90 seconds) set new season's best in the 100-meter while Washington added another season's best with a 32.03 200-meter run. Cassidy Burr (21:48.63 seconds) and Abigail Chomo (21:56.58) set new season's best in the 5,000-meter event. Burr became the first women to compete in the high jump this season, clearing the bar at 1.35 meters and Abigail Chomo set a new season's best in the hammer, tossing it 30.89 meters.
The men's team had two winners and a pair of second place finishers to lead the squad to a fourth place finish.
Matthew Hibbert was the top sprinter in the 200-meter race, earning the team 10 points with a 22.60 second event. Juan Fountain added five more points to the team with a fourth place finish, running the distance in 22.71 seconds. Sage Phillips ran a lap around the track in a matter of 49.14 seconds for a 2024 team best time and a second place place finish for eight points.
The Wildcats had three runners score points in the 5,000-meter event, led by Carter Sparwasser's fourth place finish with a time of 16:17.30. Hayward Boutte finished seventh overall with a new season's best 17:06.94 for three points while Jared Cushlanis ran a new season's best 17:16.12 and finished in ninth place for one team point.
Spencer Bradley ran the 110-meter hurdle even in 15.90 seconds, finishing in third place overall to earn six points. Dallas Parker led the team with a team best 57.80 seconds in the 400-meter hurdle event, finishing second overall for eight points. Bradley Spencer followed right behind Parker in third place, running in 58.60 seconds for six more team points.
The 4x100-meter relay team continued its success in the 2024 season, winning the event at the Bill Butler Invitational over the host Golden Rams. The combination of Hibbert, Phillips, Fountain, and Tyler Levons won the event in 42.99 seconds. The Wildcats' 4x400-meter relay team was the first collegiate team to cross the line on Saturday, as the combination of Bostwick Patten, Parker, Spencer, and Fountain finished second overall with a season's best time of 3:21.97.
In the field, Dallas Parker was the first Wildcat to compete in the pole vault this season, finishing fifth overall with a height of 3.75 meters and six team points. Samir Barber added four points to the team with a fifth place finish in the triple jump, leaping to a distance of 11.89 meters.
In the throws, Christian Dollard picked up four more points for the team in the discus event, finishing fifth overall with a day's best toss of 39.25 meters. He then finished seventh overall in the hammer throw, tossing the hammer 35.97 meters for two more points.
Joe Volk ran a season's best in the 5,000-meter, running the 12.5 laps in 17:47.94. Samuel Distler set a new team best distance in the shot put this season, throwing it 11.71 meters for 13th place. Christian Dollard hit a season's best in the shot put as well, tossing it 11.13 meters.
The Garden State Track Club won the men's meet with 114 points while West Chester finished second with 96 points. West Chester won the women's meet with 141 points.
The Wildcats stay local next weekend as well, heading to New Jersey to take part in the Rider Invitational in Lawrenceville.