After almost a month on break from competition, Penn track and field began its outdoor season at home by hosting the Penn Challenge this past weekend. Together, the Quakers made top finishes in 12 events, including a win in the women’s 4x400m relay.
Skyla Wilson — 100m, 11.8
Senior Skyla Wilson took first place in the 100-meter dash with teammate freshman Caia Gelli in third, only .01 seconds behind second-place Princeton. Wilson’s time moves her to sixth in Penn’s record book, extending her streak of hitting the record book for the fourth consecutive competition this season.
At the Ivy League Indoor Heptagonal Championships, Wilson set the program record in the 60-meter hurdles twice in the same weekend by improving on her preliminaries time in the final to close the indoor season.
Heading into the outdoor season, the senior has the chance to expand her extensive list of accolades toward a chance at titles in end-of-season championships.
Caia Gelli — 200m, 23.95
Freshman Caia Gelli bested her own 200-meter personal record of 24.29 by finishing the race at 23.95 this weekend. The time earned her the win by finishing almost half a second ahead of teammate Wilson. Gelli also made a personal record in the 100m, finishing third with a time of 12.05.
Her win in the 200m is her first sub-24 time in the event this season.
Weston Wendt — 200m, 21.66
Senior Weston Wendt topped his own personal best of 21.79 in the 200m by finishing in 21.66 with Princeton on his heels just .08 seconds behind. Wendt has been consistently chipping away at his time in the 200 since January, when he finished with a time of 22.82 in the Penn 10-Team Select.
Jocelyn Niemiec — 400m, 55.91
Freshman Jocelyn Niemiec was another rookie to take first place in her event, with her time of 55.91 coming in front of four of her teammates at her heels. The time is her personal record and her first sub-55 time this season.
Emerson Douds — 400m, 48.16
Junior Emerson Douds took the win in the 400 meters after finishing in front of teammate junior Antaures Jackson by almost one second. Douds also ran the 4x400m relay that finished second. His time is two seconds better than his performance at the Villanova Invitational in January, where he finished fourth at 50.88.
Elizabeth Bader — 2000m steeplechase, 7:02.74
Junior Elizabeth Bader came in first in the women’s 2000-meter steeplechase, besting two of her Penn teammates, Olivia Morganti and Chloe Hassman. Bader came out on top, running for an impressive 7:02.74, while Morganti and Hassman were close behind with times of 7:17.11 and 7:18.08, respectively, allowing Penn to have a clean sweep.
Junior Elizabeth Bader wins the 2000-meter steeplechase during the Penn Challenge at Franklin Field on March 19.
Maeve Stiles — 3000m, 9:38.31
Sophomore Maeve Stiles finished first with the only time under 10 minutes among her competitors. Stiles has never run a 3000 meters over 10 minutes in her time competing at Penn, with her personal best standing at her 9:24.47 set at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships.
Sophomore Maeve Stiles leads the women's 3000-meter run during the Penn Challenge at Franklin Field on March 19.
Ray Sellaro — 3000m, 8:21.22
The Quakers claimed the top 10 finishes in the 3000m race, but senior Ray Sellaro crossed the finish first. Sellaro’s time of 8:21.22 just earned him the top spot as three other Quakers closely followed just milliseconds later (8:21.29, 8:21.33, and 8:21.95).
Senior Ray Sellaro (left) smiles at teammate junior Michael Keehan as they cross the finish line of the men's 3000-meter run in first and second place respectively during the Penn Challenge at Franklin Field on March 19. 
Penn women’s 'A' team — 4x400m, 3:44.26
Penn’s 'A' team won the 4x400m relay, dominating the competition with a time of 3:44.26. Villanova 'A' bested Penn 'B' by about 17 milliseconds (3:53.18 and 3:53.35 respectively), disallowing a clean sweep for first, second, and third place. Penn ‘C’ did make it on the board, however, with a nice time of 3:57.57.
Marc Minichello — Javelin throw, 75.58m
Senior Marc Minichello, who currently stands second Penn all-time in javelin, threw 75.58 meters to claim the win. He produced the only distance over 70 meters among his competitors, with second-place Princeton throwing 67.96m.
Mayyi Mahama — Hammer throw, 61.03m
Senior Mayyi Mahama snagged a first-place finish in women’s hammer throw after hurling a distance of 61.03 meters — nearly three whole meters ahead of the second-place finish and just 4.63 meters short of her personal best and program record.
Senior Mayyi Mahama competes in the hammer throw event during the Penn Challenge at the Mondschein Throwing Complex on March 19.
James Rhoads — Pole vault, 5.30m
Freshman James Rhoads had a winning 5.30-meter clearance in the men’s pole vault competition. His teammate Benedikt Sachta also made it onto the board, placing fourth with a clearance of 4.75m.
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