NEWARK, DE-- On April 9th-10th, the Delaware State Men's and Women's track and field program closed out their two-day meet, securing consecutive first-place finishes and new rankings at the University of Delaware Invitational.

 

In the field, Ja'Mari Manson kicked off the Hornets' success, leaping for first place in the High Jump. Manson's jump (2.11m / 6'11") ranks #19 in the NCAA East Region and marks a new UD meet record. 2026 Indoor MEAC Champion Christopher Johnson continued to display his strength in the Shot Put, capturing another first-place finish with a 15.83-meter mark, while Derrick Sirmons and Babadara Olowe followed closely with second and fourth-place finishes.

 

Johnson (47.49m) and Devon James (46.05m) added another top-10 performance in the Hammer throw, while also delivering first and second-place finishes in the Discus; Sirmons was first at 44.9m and Johnson was second at 44.26m. Nanjo Levec closed out the field events for the Hornets, securing third place in the Pole Vault at 3.68m.

 

Marian Drazan posted a new DSU history mark and UD meet record in the men's 1500m race, finishing first in 3:50.30. Jonathan Drew claimed first place in the 5000m race with a time of 16:05.12, while Mugo Waweru ran 17:01.83 to secure fourth place in the 5000 meters.

 

DSU went 1-2-3 in the 4x400m relay, led by Keith Jenerette, Alonzo Sims Jr., Tori Willis Jr., and Sage Phillip, edging a new UD meet record with a time of 3:15.18. They were followed by Nanjo Levec, Kenneth Cruz, Ian Cain, and Jonah Sydney in second (3:21.01), and Daniel Kissi, Messai Maynor, Anai Burney-Green, and Amari Burke in third (3:31.61).

 

Jaquan Johnson finished third in the 100-meter race in 11.53 seconds, followed by Anai Burney-Green, who also placed third in 11.54 seconds.

 

Alonzo Sims shattered a new UD meet record in the 400 meters, finishing fifth in 48.18 seconds.

 

On the women's side, the Hornets continued their dominant performance with multiple first-place finishes, meet records, and top-three sweeps throughout the weekend.

 

In the relays, Miriam Okwudibonye, Mariah Winfield, Khalia Smith, and Marianah Lipkins secured first place in the 4x100m relay with a time of 46.71, setting a new UD meet record. The Hornets carried that momentum into the 4x400m relay, where Miriam Okwudibonye, Merasia Johnson, Annil McIntosh, and Morgan Wallace captured first place in 3:54.36, also marking a UD meet record.

 

Mileah Cotton led the distance squad with a first-place finish in the 1500m (4:53.86), ranking #3 in DSU history, while Merasia Johnson and Leilani Gibson followed with second and third-place finishes. Ilianna Surowiec added a third-place finish in the 3000m steeplechase.

 

On the track, Joy Taiwo claimed first place in the 100m hurdles (15.07), setting a UD meet record. Mariah Winfield added another first-place finish in the 100m (12.56), also breaking the meet record, while Marianah Lipkins finished fifth. Merasia Johnson secured gold in the 400m (57.17), with Morgan Wallace placing fifth. Miriam Okwudibonye added a second-place finish in the 200m, marking another UD meet record performance.

 

In the field, Mariah Winfield captured first place in the long jump (5.43m), while Jordan Myers placed fifth. Valerie Ashamu delivered a standout performance in the high jump, clearing 1.70m to secure first place and a UD meet record. Emery Gomez placed third in the pole vault, and Cyenna Martinez rounded out the field events with a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw.