Outdoor Track and Field Finishes Raleigh Relays and Navy Invitational

Thursday, March 26

Raleigh, N.C.

4:00 p.m.

Columbia

Raleigh Relays

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography

Outdoor Track and Field Finishes Raleigh Relays and Navy Invitational

3/29/2026 5:00:00 PM | Track and Field

Lions earn multiple podium finishes at both events

NEW YORK – Columbia Track & Field had a strong weekend, delivering multiple top performances at the Navy Outdoor Invitational and Raleigh Relays.

The Lions were highlighted by sprint success, relay dominance, and standout performances from the throwers.

Navy Outdoor Invitational
On the men's side, Matthew Mazero and Sid Karthodi led the way in the 100m, posting times of 10.82 and 10.97, respectively. Zach Willen paced the Lions in the 200m with a 21.95 finish, while Cadon Cutshall delivered one of the top performances of the day in the 400m, placing second overall with a time of 48.58.

Columbia's middle-distance group also contributed, as Austin Rio-Colon clocked a 1:55.29 in the 800m, and Lukas Malek added a 4:02.80 showing in the 1500m.

In the hurdles, Christopher Young recorded a 15.11 finish in the 110m hurdles, while Cuauhtemoc Zamora and Adam Jaros added depth across both hurdle events. The Lions also saw success in the relay, with the 4x400 team of Cutchall, Willen, Mazza, and Max Comfere placing first with a time of 3:22.03.

In the field events, Liam Wright cleared 4.57m in the pole vault, while Marcus Blasucci led the throws group with a mark of 16.98m in the shot put. Anthony Coluccio added a 50.48m throw in the hammer to round out a strong showing.

On the women's side, Olivia Sterling (12.43) and Kaila O'Connor (12.53) led Columbia in the 100m, while O'Connor also posted a 26.03 in the 200m. Mia McIlwain paced the Lions in the 400m with a 1:02.04 effort.

Zayna Flynn highlighted the hurdles group with a 16.75 finish in the 100m hurdles, while Kennedy Poullard delivered a strong showing in the 400m hurdles (1:05.32).

In the field, Norina Khanzada turned in one of the top performances of the meet, clearing 1.62m in the high jump. Jessica Thompson (3.76m) and Lucy Markow (3.61m) added depth in the pole vault, while Zayna Flynn posted a 4.84m mark in the long jump.

Columbia's throws group continued to build momentum, led by Catalina Holliday's 11.46m mark in the shot put and 36.71m in the discus. Ella Farley (33.67m) and Maya Helman (41.55m) contributed in the javelin and hammer, respectively, rounding out a balanced team performance.

Raleigh Relays
On the men's side, senior Matt Gatune turned in one of the top performances of the meet, clocking a 3:42.75 in the 1500m. The Lions continued to impress in the longer distances, as Edward Blaha led the way in the 10,000m with a time of 29:35.80, while George Blaha followed with a 30:12.03 effort. Brady Hill added depth in the 5000m, posting a 14:37.89.

The women's distance group also saw strong results, led by first-year Ava Malagisi, who recorded a 34:57.16 in the 10,000m. Leanna Johnston added a 35:35.94 performance in the same event, while Caroline Schoen turned in a 17:35.70 effort in the 5000m.

Up Next
Columbia continues its outdoor season next weekend with competition split across multiple meets. The Lions will travel to Gainesville, Florida, for the Florida Relays on April 3, and compete at the METS Outdoor Championships on April 4 at Randall's Island. Select athletes will also compete at the Sam Howell Invite in Princeton, New Jersey, later that day.

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