Richmond, Va. — Wagner track and field opened its outdoor season on a high note with a day of big performances at Richmond University's Fred Hardy Invitational.
Between the men's and women's teams, the Seahawks took home five event titles and had 28 top-ten finishes in the 22-team meet.
Senior Ruth-Ann Chambers ran a 1:02.04 time to win the 400-meter hurdles out of a field of 23. Freshman Christine Manneh took second the women's 100-meter dash with a 12.34 time, just 1.8 seconds off the winning time.
Senior Gia Comerford placed sixth out of 62 in the women's 800-meter run with a 2:15.04, as well as fourth in the 1500-meter run with a 4:30.82 time.
Wagner also performed well in the field events. Junior Elisa Parazzi's 1.55-meter high jump put her in third place and in long jump, freshman Mia Petersen's 5.38-meter jump landed her in sixth place. Sophomore Dayana Rodriguez's 46.29-meter hammer throw was good for sixth place.
On the men's side, freshman Julio Tatis placed sixth in the 45-man field of the 200-meter dash with a 22.06 time. Junior Arjanvir Singh's 48.97 time was good for sixth in the 400-meter dash.
Wagner had two top-ten finishers in the men's 400-meter hurdles, with junior Dante Rodney placing third after running a 56.40 time. He was joined by sophomore Michael Seawright, who ran a 59.46 time to place ninth.
Senior Maxime Ricci's 3:53.40 time earned fifth place of 77 finishers in the men's 1500-meter run.
The men also had a winning time in the men's 4x100-meter relay. The combination of sophomore Shawn Keegan, Mason, Singh and Tatis posed a 41.66-second time.
Wagner's men made a splash in the field events.
Junior Franklin Simms placed second out of 16 in the discus throw with a 46.66-meter throw. He also placed seventh in shot put with a 14.38-meter throw.
Senior Adrian Pocesta won the hammer throw with a 53.15-meter throw, followed closely by teammate junior Christopher Milillo who posted a 51.93-meter throw.
Senior Kharlin Watkins won the men's high jump with a 2.00-meter jump, also placing fourth in long jump with a 7.05-meter jump.
Four Wagner athletes placed back-to-back-to-back-to-back in long jump to take fourth through seventh place. Watkins was followed by sophomore Jack Mason, sophomore Khalid Brown and freshman Ty Lawless.
The Seahawks dominated the pole vault competition, with junior Julio Martinez winning the event with a 4.60-meter clearance. He was followed by junior Eskil Njerve's 4.40-meter clearance, then freshman Amir Shockry rounded out the leader board with a 4.00-meter clearance for third place.
Next, the Seahawks head to Williamsburg, Virginia for the Colonial Relays hosted by William and Mary beginning April 4 and concluding April 5.
