NEW YORK —The Columbia indoor track & field team had another successful weekend, including multiple record breaking performances at the BU Valentine Invitational. The team finished up competition for the two-day event in Boston late Saturday night, while also sending student-athletes to compete in the Fasttrack National Invite on Friday and the 115th Millrose Games on Saturday.
In what was a historic showing at the BU Invitational, the Lions shattered four, long-standing program records.
The first came on Friday, when
Victoria Patterson clocked in with a time of 9:02.24 in the 3k run to set a new Columbia record.
Then, on Saturday,
Chris Balthazar broke the program's record in the 60m dash with a time of 6.83 to finish third in the event, which was the team's highest finish in the competition.
Tyler Berg followed that up just a little while later with a record-breaking time of 7:54.55 in the 3000 run.
Additionally, Columbia's 4x400 meter relay squad consisting of
Matthew Mazero,
Devon Davey,
Max Comfere, and
Haydn Brotschi set a new record in the event, finishing with a time of 3:14.19.
The Lions also had a solid showing at the Fasttrack National Invite at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.
On the women's side,
Kate Kuwahara won the 3000m run with a time of 10:06.3.
Anna Jordahl-Henry followed that up witch a victory in the high jump, taking the event with a jump of 1.75m.
Will O'Brien represented the men with a win in the pole vault, taking the event with a mark of 4.95m.
Meanwhile,
Lailah Malone and
Obiora Okeke stayed put in Manhattan to take part in the weight throw events in the 115th Millrose Games at the Armory. Okeke took ninth place (15.78) in the event, while finished 12th (13.29).
ON DECK: Next up for the Lions is the Ivy League Indoor Heps. The Championships are being hosted on Saturday, February 25 and Sunday February 26 in Hanover, N.H. Competition is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. both days.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia track and field by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
