DUBUQUE, IA - It was a banner day for the Beloit College track and field program as the Buccaneers delivered a series of high-octane performances, claiming multiple top finishes and podium spots across sprinting, distance, and field events at the Spartan Shootout, hosted by the University of Dubuque.
The Buccaneer men established themselves as the ones to beat in the sprinting events. Josh Yearby (West Park, FL) put on a masterclass in the 200-meter dash, taking first place with a blistering time of 21.98 seconds, breaking his school record for the second time this year.
Nate Otis (Shoreview, Minn.) proved to be the team's ultimate utility athlete, securing second-place finishes in two incredibly demanding disciplines. Otis clocked a 50.19 in the 400-meter dash and followed it up with an impressive 8.84 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles finals.
On the women's side, Syniyah Quenga (Urbana, IL) was a force to be reckoned with. Quenga secured a silver medal in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.47 seconds and added a bronze to her tally in the 60-meter dash final, crossing the line in 8.17 seconds. Supporting the sprint crew, Allie Roberts and Jaslyn Gama (Beloit, Wis.) showed great depth in the 400-meter dash, finishing back-to-back in 3rd (1:03.90) and 4th (1:04.38) place, respectively.
The Buccaneers' distance runners showed remarkable grit and tactical precision. Leo Ramos headlined the men's mile, clinching a first-place victory with a time of 4:31.95. He was closely supported by teammate Kembre Daniel (Chicago, Ill.), who took 4th place in 4:34.14.
In the women's 3000-meter run, Simone de Montigny (Neenah, Wis.) and Addie Bogda worked in tandem to secure top-six finishes. De Montigny crossed the finish line in 11:24.41 for 5th place, while Bogda followed closely in 6th with a time of 11:35.35.
The success wasn't limited to the oval. John Deary II (Westwego, LA) soared to the top of the podium in the Men's Long Jump, clearing a distance of 6.82 meters to take gold. He was joined in the top ten by Andrew Arhebun (Chicago, Ill.), who leaped 6.43 meters for 7th.
In the throwing circles, Joshua Martinez Marte (Beloit, Wis.) showcased his power. Martinez Marte took 3rd place in the Men's Shot Put with a toss of 15.46 meters and added an 8th-place finish in the Weight Throw with a mark of 14.90 meters. For the women, Adelaide Schmitt (Aurora, Colo.) broke into the top ten in the Weight Throw with a distance of 12.52 meters.
High above the track, Haley Carlin (Sarasota, Fla.) represented Beloit in the vertical jumps, clearing 2.65 meters in the Women's Pole Vault to earn a tie for 4th place.
The Buccaneers are back in action next weekend at the UW-Platteville Invite on Saturday, February 14th.
