St. John’s Readies for the Youree Spence-Garcia Invitational; Nora Haugen to Race for National Record in the 600-Meter

Saturday, December 7

Staten Island, N.Y. (Ocean Breeze)

4 p.m.

St. John's University

Youree Spence Garcia Invitational

St. John’s Readies for the Youree Spence-Garcia Invitational; Nora Haugen to Race for National Record in the 600-Meter

12/5/2024 3:11:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Standout Nora Haugen will race for the Norway national record in the 600-meter run

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's track & field team will kick off its 2024-25 indoor season when it hosts the Youree Spence-Garcia Invitational on Saturday. The meet is set to begin at 4 p.m. at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y.

Fresh off her NCAA Championship appearance in the 800-meter run, Nora Haugen will attempt to break the Norwegian women's 600-meter national record of 1:28.27 on Saturday. The Sandnes, Norway native placed 19^th in the 800 meters with a 2:03.47 mark against the best in the nation at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in June.

The junior put together a magical sophomore season last year, breaking the school record in the indoor and outdoor 800-meter run and the sprint medley relay six times. She also tallied six wins and recorded 11 podium finishes in three events during the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Junior Delicia Bent returns to the Red Storm, leading a talented group of sprinters. The Margate, Fla., product notched a bronze medal from a season-best 45.67-second finish in the 4x100-meter relay at the 2024 Outdoor BIG EAST Championships.

Three-time 400-meter BIG EAST Champion Chinenye Onuorah begins her 2024-25 track and field season with high expectations. The junior garnered seven gold medals in the 200 meters, 400 meters, the 4x200-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay across the 2023-24 season. Additionally, she made her first national appearance, racing in the 400-meter run at the NCAA East Regional, last May.

Jamora Alves and the Red Storm throwers are prepared for another impactful season in Queens. Following her NCAA Championship appearance as a freshman, the Grenada native won four events throughout her sophomore season in 2024. Alves also notched bronze medals in the shot put and discus at the BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Cassandra Lemus-Sodji headlines a strong group of jumpers in the 2024-25 campaign. Last year, the multi-event standout was named to both the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Teams, after medaling in the long jump and the 4x100-meter relay.