Columbia Track and Completes Penn Relays

Thursday, April 23

Philadelphia, Pa.

10:00 a.m.

Columbia

Penn Relays

4/25/2026 7:23:00 PM | Track and Field

Blaha and Thompson set new school records at Franklin Field

NEW YORK — The Columbia outdoor track & field team recorded seven top-10 finishes and two school records to cap a strong weekend at the Penn Relays on Saturday at Franklin Field.
George Blaha lowered the school record in the men's 5,000m, clocking 13:43.48, while Jessica Thompson delivered a career performance in the pole vault, clearing a program-record 4.05m.

Men's Events
The men's 4x100m relay team of Matthew Mazero, Haydn Brotschi, Zach Willen, and Max Comfere won its preliminary heat with a time of 41.28.

Columbia's 4x800m relay squad of Nicholas Hayden, Justin Gottlieb, Matt Gatune, and Jacob Van Orden placed eighth overall, finishing in 7:27.12.

In the men's 5,000m, Blaha paced the Lions with a 25th-place finish (14:05.25), while Henry Koike-Sieira followed in 14:17.65.

In the field events, Colin Moore cleared 1.86m in the high jump. Joshua Adams placed 10th in the long jump with a mark of 6.86m, while Marcus Blasucci finished 14th in the shot put (16.35m).

Women's Events
On the track, the 4x200m relay team of Sean O'Brien, Kylie Castillo, Josie Rempe, and Kaila O'Connor placed 15th overall with a time of 1:39.02.

In the women's 5,000m, Ava Malagisi placed 40th in 16:37.88, while Leanna Johnston finished 57th in 17:00.53.

In the field events, Norina Khanzada placed 10th in the high jump (1.65m). Lucy Markow finished 12th in the championship division of the pole vault (3.60m), while Viktoria Mihaylova took eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.04m. Zuriel Padua-Serrano recorded a throw of 33.53m in the javelin.

Up Next
Columbia travels across the Hudson next weekend to compete in the Larry Ellis Invitational, hosted by Princeton. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

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