Multiple student-athletes earn spots in event finals tomorrow
WICHITA, Kan., May 14, 2022 – The University of South Florida track and field team finished another successful day at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships on Saturday evening. The Bulls tallied three finishes on the podium with more qualifying for final heats tomorrow afternoon.
Shaniya Benjamin (Tampa, Fla.) and David Ajama (Lowell, Mass.) started the Bulls off strong in the long jump with each posting a runner-up finish in their respective event. Benjamin posted a 6.06-meter (19-10.75) leap to finish with the silver medal, while Ajama jumped 7.58 meters (24-10.5) to pass Matthew O’Neal for fifth on USF’s all-time list.
Johann Jeremiah (St. George’s, Grenada) also earned a top-three finish on the afternoon, earning bronze in the shot-put competition. He threw 16.90 meters (55-5.5) to earn the Bulls six points in the meet standings.
Both Shaneylix Davila (Kissimmee, Fla.) and Hannah Connell (Bridgetown, Barbados) earned a spot in the 100-meter hurdles finals after taking second and third in qualifying. Davila ran a 13.20 for second, while Connell posted a 13.34 to take third and move up to fourth on USF’s top 10 list.
Elijah Wright (Naples, Fla.) finished second in the 400-meter dash preliminaries, earning a spot in the finals. His time of 46.54 moves him up to third in USF history, while Monte Parker (Plantation, Fla.) qualified in the event as well with a 48.33.
Michael Bourne III (Midlothian, Va.) continued a successful championship meet, finishing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles qualifying. His time of 13.98 is the third best time in school history and gave him fourth place in the preliminary round.
Connell also earned a spot in the 100-meter dash finals tomorrow with a time of 11.56, which moves her up to seventh on USF’s all-time performance list.
Jadaja Baxter (Shady Springs, Ga.) also earned USF a point in the meet standings with a 5.80-meter (19-0.5) leap in the long jump. Zahria Allers-Liburd (Miami, Fla.) posted a 55.12 in the 400-meter dash, which gave her the 10th spot on USF’s top-ten list.
Up Next
The Bulls continue competition at the AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships tomorrow. The meet is streamed on ESPN+.
About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 54 All-America selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O’Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF’s first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 – O’Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.
– #GoBulls –
