PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Monmouth University men's and women's track and field teams continued their 2023 outdoor season at the Big 5 and Friends Invitational in Philadelphia, Pa. on Saturday.

Four Hawks won events at the meet hosted by the University of Pennsylvania with all four coming via the men's squad. David Strong took first place in the long jump with a leap of 7.05m, and he also impressed in the 400m hurdles with a third-place time of 54.34. Taylor Boorse carried his momentum from the Monmouth Spring Opener in the javelin with a throw of 60.59m, winning the event. Mujeeb Ali won the hammer throw at 52.04m, and Louis DiLaurenzio claimed first place in the 1500m with a time of 3:48.29.

On the women's side, there was some movement up the all-time Top Ten list. Sophomore Yasmeen Tinsley had a strong day, jumping up to fifth in the 100m hurdles (14.28) and fifth in the 400m hurdles (59.80), while finishing in second place in both events. Ashley Navarro ran the fifth fastest 1500m time in school history at 4:28.98 and finished third in the event, and Natalie Rolon-Issa threw the ninth-best discus throw at 42.06m. Rolon-Issa finished in second place in the event, while also placing second in the hammer throw (49.78m).
 
Other notable performances include Veronica Chainov's third-place finish in the women's high jump (1.61m) and Keven Kevelier's second-place finish on the men's side of the event (2.02m). Connor Bennett and Dalton Yeust both cleared a 4.76m bar in the men's pole vault, and Colson Martin placed third in the men's long jump at 6.87m. Vanessa Wood placed third in the women's shot put with a throw of 13.01m, and AJ Bailor took second in the men's hammer throw at 51.09m. Finally, Meredith Updike placed third in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 1:02.97.

EVENT WINNERS
Men's Long Jump: David Strong – 7.05m
Men's Javelin: Taylor Boorse – 60.59m
Men's Hammer Throw: Mujeeb Ali – 52.04m
Men's 1500m: Louis DiLaurenzio – 3:48.29

ALL-TIME TOP-TENS
Men's 1500m: Declan McDonnell – 3:50.01, ninth
Women's 100mH: Yasmeen Tinsley – 14.28, fifth
Women's 400mH: Yasmeen Tinsley – 59.80, fourth
Women's 1500m: Ashley Navarro – 4:28.98, fifth
Women's Discus: Natalie Rolon-Issa – 42.06m, ninth
 
QUOTES
"We're thankful for the event staff and coaches at Penn for doing everything possible to get this meet in. We finished the last event just as the skies started to open up. It was a great opportunity getting to compete at historic Franklin Field. We had some event victories and several new top ten marks. Overall, a very solid meet for our team!" – Head Coach Mike Nelson
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks compete at the Dalton Ebanks Invitational hosted by George Mason on Saturday, April 8, in Fairfax, Va.