As the University Athletic Association (UAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships approach quickly, the Brandeis Judges’ men’s and women’s track and field teams have been competing at invitational meets across the country.
On April 11 and 12 at Smith College, the Judges competed in the Carla Coffey Invitational. Lucas Dia ’25 ran a 9:39.88 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, good for first place and #69 in this year’s Division III rankings. Ella Warkentine ’26 ran an 11:36.07 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, good for a race victory and new #97 in Division III overall. Matthew Yue ’26 leaped for 6.68 meters in the long jump, grabbing second place in the event and #78 in this year’s Division III ranking. Many other Judges found success at this meet, with Zada Forde ’25 getting a time of 18:34.96 and the victory in her 5000 meter race and several other members of the team competing well in their respective events.
The teams also competed at the Silfen Invitational at Connecticut College on April 11. Fewer Judges competed at this event. In the Elite Women’s 5000 meter race, Sadie Harrow ’27 ran a 17:45.85 for eighth place and a new Division III record for 2025.
Additionally, the women’s team competed at the Pacific Coast Invitational in Long Beach, California on April 17. Here, Jasmin Berganza ’28 ran a personal record in the 100 meters with a time of 12.83 and 67th place. In the 200 meters, Peterly Leroy ’28 and Shaniece Nugent ’26 both grabbed personal records, with times of 24.93 (32nd place, a school record) for Leroy and 25.81 (60th place) for Nugent. Leroy also netted a personal best in the 400 meters, with a time of 55.36 seconds and 3rd place.
Then, both teams competed at the Brian Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California from April 17 to April 18. The Judges found success in the relay races, setting school records in the 4×400 meter race and the 4×100 meter race. In the 400 meter relay, Leroy, Nugent, Hannah Bohbot-Dridi ’25 and Berganza ran a time of 3:49.69, beating a record set in 1999. The same team set a record in the 100 meter relay, running a time of 48.14 and beating a record set by the team the week prior by just 0.16 seconds. Garret Rieden ’26 and TJ Carleo ’26 both ran in the 800 meters at this invitational, setting times of 1:51.050 and 1:51:042 respectively, and both now rank at 10th place across all of Division III.
Finally, both teams competed at the Sean Collier Invitational at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on April 19. On the women’s side, Warkentine competed in the 1500 meters, earning a personal record time of 4:47.81 and fourth place. Anna Batelli ’25 set two personal bests for the day, with a time of 2:30.29 in the 800 meters and a time of 4:54.70 in the 1500 meters. Kyra Au ’25 grabbed a personal record in the 1500 meters too, with a time of 4:57.12. Rounding out the track events, Hailey Crane ’25 ran a 27.09 in the 200 meters for another personal best, while Ifigenia Oxyzolou ’26 ran a 29.80 in the same event for a personal best too. On the men’s side, the team found success in short and long distance events. In the 100 meters, Jordan Colon ’25 ran a personal best with a time of 10.74 and Yue ’26 ran a personal best with a time of 10.99. In the 200 meters, Danny Krigman ’25 ran a time of 22.82 for a personal record, Jaiden Banton ’28 ran a 23.14 for a personal record and Sam Rosen ’27 ran a time of 23.22 for a personal record. In the 800 meters, Henry Nguyen ’25 ran a 1:58.54 for a personal record, Dylan Zhao ’26 ran a time of 2:00.26 for a personal record and James Waters ’28 ran a 2:02.86 for a personal record. In the 1500 meters, the team had four personal bests. Parker Cook ’28 ran a 4:08.50, Dia ran a 4:11.11, Dylan Whalen ’25 ran a 4:24.05 and Aidan Shames ’25 ran a 4:32.75. Finally, Laurin ’26 threw for 39.65 meters in the discus throw.
Next up, both teams will travel to New York City for the UAA season championships on April 26 and April 27. They’ll then compete in regional championships and invitational meets before the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division Three Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio from May 22 to May 24.
Editor’s Note: Sports Editor Calli Morvay ’26 did not contribute to the writing or editing of this article.
