Arizona men’s and women’s track and field wrapped up competition this weekend at the Armory Collegiate Invitational and the Mountain T’s Invitational with three first-place finishes.
Senior Shapri Romero won the 400-meter sprint and senior Nick Ross won the high jump at the Armory Collegiate Invitational in New York, N.Y. Ross has won his third first-place in all three meets he has competed in this season.
“It has been a great experience for everyone,” head coach Fred Harvey said in a press release.
Romero clocked a personal-best time of 52.82 in the 400-meter sprint. Her time is also the No. 5 time in the country this season. During her last three 400-meter races, Romero has clocked consistent personal-best times.
“We’ve been grinding through the other meets, and I haven’t been feeling my best,” Romero said in a press release. “So, to clock two personal bests in one weekend, in New York at the Armory, was really exciting and showed that I’m on my way.”
The quartet of sophomore Nnenya Hailey, freshman Jasper Gray, senior Tamara Pridgett and Romero earned a second-place finish in the women’s 4×400-meter relay. They clocked a season-best time of 3:38.46 with Romero clocking a 400-meter split of 51.91, which is the No. 16 time in the country this season.
“Jasper was able to maintain, and then Tamara ran a really good leg, too,” Romero said. “When I got the stick in second-to-last place, the run — it caught me off-guard. I didn’t know where it came from; I’m pretty sure it was Jesus.”
In her solo run, Hailey clocked a personal-best time of 8.21, which won first place and is No. 11 in the country.
“[Saturday] was a good day,” Hailey said. “I moved up today in the national rankings; I’m really trying to make it to the NCAA Championships. I’ve never been in the 60-meter hurdles, so that’s my goal right now.”
Junior Shakayla McEaddy was a last-minute addition to the trip. She came away from the competition in the women’s high jump earning a first-place finish with a personal-best clearance of 5-10 (1.78m). This jump mark is tied for No. 23 in the country.
“Shakayla made this trip,” Harvey said. “She wasn’t originally on the trip, but we had some tickets open up; she gets a ticket, and she wins the college high jump. That is a great story within itself.”
Ross, a member of The Bowerman Watch List, won his third-consecutive meet during the 2014 indoor season. Ross won first place with a clearance of 7-5 (2.26m).
Freshman Jordan Young took second place in the men’s weight throw with a toss of 68-7 (20.90m).
Freshman Miles Parish also won the 400-meter sprint with a time of 47.23. This is Parish’s second-best time of his career.
“We learned a lot this weekend,” Harvey said. “As a team, looking at the meet, the takeaway for me is that there are still things we have to get better at. I’m confident … that those things will get worked out.”
—Follow Zoe Wolkowitz @zowolko
