St. John's University Athletics
Saturday, May 15
Geneva, Ohio (SPIRE Institute)
11:00 AM
St. John's University
at
BIG EAST Outdoor Championships
St. John’s Captures Three Event Titles at BIG EAST Outdoor Championships
5/15/2021 6:52:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Leah Anderson was named the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Performer in track events
GENEVA, Ohio (May 15, 2021) – The St. John's track & field team captured three event titles and six medals at the 2021 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships on Saturday at SPIRE Institute.
As a team, the Johnnies placed third with 99 points while Villanova tallied up a conference-leading 197.50 points. UConn placed second at 157.50.
The Red Storm secured three gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals across the two-day meet. St. John's sprints and relay squads dominated on day two of the league championships, racking up 57 points.
Senior Leah Anderson was named the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Performer in track events and the conference's High Point Performer of the meet for the third time in her career. Anderson earned three event titles in the 200-meter dash, 400 meters, and the 4x100-meter relay. She also notched a silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay.
"We could not be more proud of our team's efforts these past two days," said Head Coach Jim Hurt. "Leah [Anderson] led our efforts by winning three events and narrowly missing a fourth. All of our ladies competed across the event spectrum, and it was one of the best team performances in school history."
Anderson kicked off the day by setting a school record with Onassha Rogers Avon Samuels, and Brooklyn Chestnut in the 4x100-meter relay, registering a first-place finish with a time of 45.64. The Red Storm's relay squad passed Molly Ellis, Rikka Lovely, Trudy-Ann McLean, LaTasha Collins' former mark of 45.71 that was set in 2013.
Anderson captured her second gold medal in the 400 meters, recording a time of 53.35. This marked her third straight conference title in the event. The Mount Vernon, N.Y., native also took first place in the 400 meters at the 2019 outdoor championships and at the 2020 BIG EAST Indoor Championships.
Samuels and Skyy Diop each notched personal bests in the event, finishing in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Samuels clocked in a time of 54.15, tying for 43rd on the East Region qualifying list. Diop recorded a mark of 54.33.
Anderson closed out the meet by taking first place in the 200 meters with a time of 23.36. The mark is the second fastest time in school history and currently ranks 51st in the nation. Samuels and Diop both earned another personal best on the day with times of 24.01 and 24.28.
Senior Amarys Berry secured a bronze medal in the shot put with a distance of 14.34 meters. Samantha Morillo placed fourth in the event, recording a mark of 13.89 meters. Morillo also notched fourth place in the weight throw with a personal best of 45.41 meters.
Amanda Belgrave posted a personal record in the triple jump, finishing in fourth with a distance of 11.52 meters.
In just her third meet for St. John's this outdoor season, Eleftheria Christogeorgou cleared a height of 1.75 meters in the high jump to take fifth place.
Rogers represented the Red Storm in the 100-meter dash where she captured a personal best time of 12.04.
Chantai Smith, Diop, Samuels and Anderson closed out the meet by grabbing a silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay with a personal record of 3:38.98. Villanova narrowly edged out the Johnnies with a mark of 3:38.86.
St. John's returns to action on May 27-29 with a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., for the 2021 NCAA East Regional Championships.
As a team, the Johnnies placed third with 99 points while Villanova tallied up a conference-leading 197.50 points. UConn placed second at 157.50.
The Red Storm secured three gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals across the two-day meet. St. John's sprints and relay squads dominated on day two of the league championships, racking up 57 points.
Senior Leah Anderson was named the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Performer in track events and the conference's High Point Performer of the meet for the third time in her career. Anderson earned three event titles in the 200-meter dash, 400 meters, and the 4x100-meter relay. She also notched a silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay.
"We could not be more proud of our team's efforts these past two days," said Head Coach Jim Hurt. "Leah [Anderson] led our efforts by winning three events and narrowly missing a fourth. All of our ladies competed across the event spectrum, and it was one of the best team performances in school history."
Anderson kicked off the day by setting a school record with Onassha Rogers Avon Samuels, and Brooklyn Chestnut in the 4x100-meter relay, registering a first-place finish with a time of 45.64. The Red Storm's relay squad passed Molly Ellis, Rikka Lovely, Trudy-Ann McLean, LaTasha Collins' former mark of 45.71 that was set in 2013.
Anderson captured her second gold medal in the 400 meters, recording a time of 53.35. This marked her third straight conference title in the event. The Mount Vernon, N.Y., native also took first place in the 400 meters at the 2019 outdoor championships and at the 2020 BIG EAST Indoor Championships.
Samuels and Skyy Diop each notched personal bests in the event, finishing in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Samuels clocked in a time of 54.15, tying for 43rd on the East Region qualifying list. Diop recorded a mark of 54.33.
Anderson closed out the meet by taking first place in the 200 meters with a time of 23.36. The mark is the second fastest time in school history and currently ranks 51st in the nation. Samuels and Diop both earned another personal best on the day with times of 24.01 and 24.28.
Senior Amarys Berry secured a bronze medal in the shot put with a distance of 14.34 meters. Samantha Morillo placed fourth in the event, recording a mark of 13.89 meters. Morillo also notched fourth place in the weight throw with a personal best of 45.41 meters.
Amanda Belgrave posted a personal record in the triple jump, finishing in fourth with a distance of 11.52 meters.
In just her third meet for St. John's this outdoor season, Eleftheria Christogeorgou cleared a height of 1.75 meters in the high jump to take fifth place.
Rogers represented the Red Storm in the 100-meter dash where she captured a personal best time of 12.04.
Chantai Smith, Diop, Samuels and Anderson closed out the meet by grabbing a silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay with a personal record of 3:38.98. Villanova narrowly edged out the Johnnies with a mark of 3:38.86.
St. John's returns to action on May 27-29 with a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., for the 2021 NCAA East Regional Championships.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
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