A school-record 27 Quakers contended at the NCAA East Preliminary from May 23-25 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Ten Penn athletes have advanced to the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the most in school history.
In women’s competition, freshman Skyla Wilson, junior Cecil Ene, junior Nia Akins, and sophomore Uchechi Nwogwugwu broke the school record in the 4x400 and earned a spot in the NCAA Championships with a time of 3:32.12. They are the first relay team in school history to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Akins also qualified in the 800m, placing first with a time of 2:03.44, a Penn record. She finished second in the nation in the 800m at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in early March.
With a time of 52.51 in the 400m, Nwogwugwu became the first female sprinter in school history to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
High jumper Anna Peyton Malizia has earned a spot in the NCAA Championships for the second straight year, clearing 1.80m. Sophomore Ashley Anumba is also returning to the NCAA Championships after a discus throw of 52.49m.
Freshman Mayyi Mahama qualified in the hammer throw with a toss of 62.23m, a personal record.
On the men’s side, junior Sean Clarke cleared 5.21m in the pole vault to advance to the NCAA Championships for the second time in three years.
Junior Colin Daly qualified in the steeplechase with a time of 8:46.08, making him the first Quaker in school history to advance to the NCAA Championships in the event. Freshman Marc Minichello qualified in the javelin throw with a mark of 67.35m.
The NCAA Championships will be held from June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.
