GOLDEN, Colo. — MSU Denver wrapped up the opening weekend of the indoor season on Saturday at the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Classic, turning in a strong slate of performances across the track and field events that contested the final day of competition.
The Roadrunners put together multiple top-three finishes on the women's side, highlighted by an event win and two podium appearances in the sprints and jumps.
In the women's 400 meters, freshman Arianna Toaipa delivered MSU Denver's first event victory of the season, cruising to the win in 1:02.22 in a field of three. Toaipa also competed in the 60 meters earlier in the day, while teammates Raegan Moran (7.85), Jessica Hobson (7.95), and Arianna Toaipa (8.14) all finished inside the top 13 during preliminary heats.
Kathryn Rust opened her season with a podium finish in the 60-meter hurdles, taking third in 8.95 in the finals. Delaney Pighetti also reached the final, placing seventh in 9.59.
The Roadrunners were active in the vertical jumps as well. Pighetti added another third-place performance, clearing 1.61 meters (5'3.25") in the high jump. Andrea Davis followed in seventh (1.56 meters), while Rust rounded out the group in 10th.
In the women's triple jump, MSU Denver put two athletes inside the top five. Breauna Sorensen placed third with a mark of 10.49 meters (34'5"), while Chloe Meldahl finished fifth at 9.76 meters (32'0.25").
The Roadrunners also showed strong participation in the short sprints and hurdles. Moran led the program in the 60 meters with her ninth-place prelim time, while Toaipa and Hobson followed closely behind.
On the men's side, the highlight came in the hurdles. Anthony Martinez advanced to the finals of the 60-meter hurdles after an impressive 8.25 in prelims, while teammate Sean Pecenka placed fifth in the final in 8.43 following a 7th-place preliminary finish. Akinwale Williams (8.73), Aden Guenther (8.78), and
Joseph Barlow (8.83) rounded out a deep MSU Denver contingent in the event.
MSU Denver's jumpers also closed out Day 2 with strong results. Isaiah Williams finished second in the high jump after clearing 2.00 meters (6'6.75"), while Kai Luna placed second in the triple jump at 13.86 meters (45'5.75") following an 11th-place finish in the long jump earlier in the day.
