GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior Micha Powell of the Maryland women's track and field team made history Friday evening, breaking a 17-year old program record in the 400 meter dash at the Pepsi Florida Relays. Powell set a new all-time best time in the event at Maryland, running a 52.49 to smash the previous outdoor record of 53.16 set back in 1999 by Candyce DeLoatch.
Powell won her heat with the time and finished third overall in a field loaded with some of the nation's top Division I talent. The mark will likely rank inside the top-16 in the country after results are updated through the weekend.
The Terps had several solid showings throughout day one of action at Percy Beard Track. Junior Catherine Voelpel also ran in the 400, finishing with a time of 56.41.
Senior Charlotte Staver was inside the top-40 in the 800, running a 2:13.54. Sophomore Alexandra Lucki moved into sixth all-time at Maryland in the 1500, running a personal-best 4:23.95 to finish 13th in the field.
Senior Lisa Meneau continued to build on her early outdoor success in the 400 meter hurdles, posting a top ten finish in a deep field. Her time of 58.50 knocked off over three tenths of a second off her previous season-best, as she will look to remain inside the top-20 nationally in the event. Teammates Alexandra Cimino (1:01.96) and Taylor Tucker (1:04.74) were 27th and 44th (respectively).
Senior Chioma Onyekwere was sixth in the discus, improving upon her season-best with a throw of 50.66 meters. Sophomore Peyton Wade took fourth in the high jump invite with a leap of 1.73 meters.
On the men's side, junior Brandon Thompson represented the Terps in the 100 meter dash, taking 30th with a time of 10.52. Thompson would later post a 21.16 in the 200 dash invite. Sophomore teammates Alex Leto (48.49) and Eric Thomas (49.14) were 37th and 50th respectively in the 400.
Senior Dan Trettel improved upon his season-best in the 800 meter run, going 1:52.12 to take 41st in the event. In the 110 meter hurdles, sophomore Diego Lyon finished 41st in 14.48. Junior Paul Joseph was 37th in the 400 hurdles in 54.23. Sophomore Louis Corgliano took 16th in the men's steeplechase, finishing in 9:17.12.
Action resumes today for the final day at the Pepsi Florida Relays
-Terps-
