MARYLAND
INVITATIONAL
Mar. 17, 2018 || Kehoe Track & Field Complex || College Park, Md.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland track and field team will open up its outdoor season on Saturday as the Terrapins host the annual Maryland Invitational in College Park.
Action will commence at 9:00 a.m. with the hammer event and last the entire day at the Kehoe Track & Field Complex.
"I am looking forward to getting the outdoor season started," said head coach Andrew Valmon. "I know our group is hungry to build off the indoor season and to take their performances to the next level. This first competition will be an opportunity for us to transition to the outdoor season on our home track."
To preview the spring season, let's take a look at some players to watch:
Men
Junior thrower Greg Thompson will lead the Terps in discus. Last season at the Maryland Invitational, Thompson threw a 54.26m to win the event. The London, Eng. native finished in fourth place (58.67m) at the Big Ten Championships, qualifying for the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track Championships, where he took 15th, throwing 56.01m.
In the high jump, sophomore Sam Shoultz is ready for the spring season after a strong indoor campaign. At the Terrapin Invitational in January, Shoultz notched the best mark for a Terp in the high jump since 2011, clearing 7'2.25”, setting a new personal best and placing him fourth all-time in Maryland program lore.
Sophomore sprinter Kameron Jones is coming off an incredible indoor season, setting the school record in the 300m dash in his first meet of the season before moving up to the 600m and posting a 1:16:76, a time that ranked fourth in the NCAA and third in the Big Ten in the indoor season. To read more about Jones cementing his legacy at Maryland, click here.
Jones wasn't the only one setting records in the fall, as senior sprinter Alex Leto broke his own school record in the 300m dash, running a 34:27 at the Nittany Lion Invitational. Last season at the Maryland Invitational, the Old Bridge, NJ native won the 200m, running in 21.95
Senior distance runner Patrick Hanley will split time between the 5k/10k in the outdoor season, after a strong indoor campaign in the 5k. Last spring, Hanley competed at seven events, winning the 3000m (8:40:26) at the Maryland Invitational.
Women
Junior Jewel Smith will lead the Terps into the outdoor season, specializing in the long jump. In her last outing of the indoor, Smith set a new personal best (20'01 ¾), finishing third at the Big Ten Championships and earning her All-Big Ten honors.
Sophomore Dallyssa Huggins will compete in the 400H and the high jump. The Canada native participated in four events at the 2017 Maryland Invitational, finishing 6th in the javelin throw (34.65m), 4th in the 100H (15.25), 3rd in the shotput (12.50m), and placed 1st in the 4x400m relay (3:47.96).
Senior Peyton Wade will make her 2017-18 season debut on Saturday at the Maryland Invitaitonal. The Aurora, Ill. native, who reached the NCAA East Regional last year, had top 15 finishes in the javelin throw, shotput and the 800m last season.
After a solid indoor campaign, senior thrower Claudia Ababio will take part in all three throws, the discus, shotput and hammer in the spring season. Last spring, the Clarksburg, Md. native became the school record holder in discus.
Senior sprinter/jumper Kayla Richardson is ready for one last run this outdoor season and will look to continue her success in the jumps after a NCAA East Regional appearance last season. Richardson took 2nd place in the 200m (24.91) and the 100H (14.86) at the Maryland Invitational last March.
Junior runner Emily Bracher set a career-best with a 4:54:38 mile at the Big Ten Indoor Championships in March and will look to build off that in the outdoor season.
Sophomore Brittany Lang ran well from the mile through the 5k throughout the indoor season. The Columbia, Md. native will compete in the 1500m and the 3k at the home meet.
Lastly, a handful of freshman added depth in the indoor season and will look to continue to make an impact in the outdoor season: Christine Laurie (middle distance), Xahria Santiago (400h hurdles and sprints), Cheyenne Jones (400m and sprints), Dai'lyn Merriweather (short sprints), Jai'lyn Merriweather (long and short sprints), Nadia Hackett (hurdles and short sprints), Molly Barrick (long distance).
