University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Florida Relays
Florida Relays Another Successful Trip South for the Huskies
3/30/2019 8:04:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The UConn Huskies hoped right back on plane and headed for the "Sunshine State" once more this weekend to take part in the Pepsi Florida Relays at the University of Florida's Percy Beard Track. UConn sent a limited roster to the event but will come home to Connecticut with plenty of performances to be please about.
"We didn't know what to expect with the quick turnaround from last week, and how we could respond," commented head coach Greg Roy. "We really accomplished a lot this weekend. This was a really, really productive meet for us."
"Led by (Jordan) Torney, (Kyle) Brackman and (Tyler) Gleen, who all did a great, job and our 4x400 relay, who really impressed," stated Roy. "Todd (Stueber) was great in both the discus and shot and Malik (Snead) was really good in the triple. We had a lot of guys who should be looking at NCAA regional marks with their performances. A really solid meet all around."
Senior Kyle Brackman (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) got things kicked-off on Thursday night setting a new personal best in the 5,000 meters with a blazing time of 14:06.92, good for a second place finish in the 42 runner field. Brackman shattered his previous best time in the event (14:27.51) as he currently sits at the top of the AAC rankings in the event.
Classmate Sebastian Castano (Cresskill, N.J.) also got in on the action on Thursday night and followed suit in the personal best department. Castano took ninth in the hammer and did it with a new top mark of 55.57 meters (182'4"), set on his first attempt of the day. Castano tops his previous mark (55.31m) set at last spring's AAC Championship.
On Friday, the UConn 4x400 relay team was one of the highlights with the Husky foursome of three freshmen, Noah Woodman (Hampstead, N.H.), Markus Bagley (Jersey City, N.J.) and Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, N.J.) along with sophomore Safir Scott (Greenwich, Conn.) blazed a time of 3:11.29 to finish 11th overall in a field of 42 teams. Husky rookie Bagley made his collegiate debut on the weekend and ran the third leg on the relay with Ventura anchoring.
Sophomore Tyler Gleen (Shelton, Conn.) ran his first 800 meter race of the outdoor season and not only finished eighth in the field of 60 runners, but posted his fastest ever time in the event, both indoors and outdoors. He came in at 1:48.79.
Senior Kyle Barber (Fayetteville, N.Y.) ran the 3,000 steeplechase for the first time this season and turned in a time of 9:17.00, good for a ninth place finish. Classmate Michael McGonnigle (New Fairfield, Conn.), who turned in one of the top times in the AAC in the 5,000 meters last weekend, ran the steeplechase for the first time in his career this weekend and posted a time of 9:44.31.
Sophomore Jordan Torney (Toms River, N.J.) had his first go of the season in the long jump and came home in ninth place with a leap of 7.21 meters (23'8.00"). Torney also ran the 110 meter hurdles and finished 27th with a time of 14.63 seconds. He ran just behind freshman teammate Konstantin Rust (Germany), who was across the line in 14.63 seconds.
Sophomore Todd Stueber (Toms River, N.J.) grabbed a 10th place finish in the discus with his best throw of the early outdoor season at 48.70 meters (159'9").
Saturday's highlights included senior Malik Snead (Trenton, N.J.) who competed for the first time this outdoor season in the triple jump and came up with a ninth place finish. Snead registered his best jump at 15.42 meters (50'7.25"). Classmate Ian Bergere (Madison, Conn.) took in his first outdoor action as well this weekend in the pole vault. Bergere posted a height of 4.77 meters (15'7.75").
In the shot put, the sophomore duo of Stueber and Matthew Brady (Biddeford, Maine) were both in action and finished 12th and 16th, respectively. Stueber came up with a throw of 16.20 meters (53'1.75") on his final attempt while Brady's best throw came in at 15.95 meters (52'4.00").
The UConn distance medley relay team also had a great night, finishing second with a time of 9:55.26.
The Huskies will return south again next weekend when they take part in the Spec Towns Invitational at the University of Georgia.
Players Mentioned
