On Saturday March 28, 2015, the UMBC Retrievers hosted the annual Big Dawg Invitational at UMBC Stadium in Baltimore, MD. Gripping the 30 degree and windy forecast, we begin the day with first and second place in the women's Steeplechase. UMBC's Chelsea Vane takes first with a time of 11:45.00, followed by Hannah Aris coming in second with a time of 11:50.00. More success for the Retrievers continues with the men and women's 1500m run. Sophomores Sophia Cologer and Katie Govatos take first and second, followed by senior Julie Gessler in third. Later, Alisha Beeman leaps into second place in High Jump with a 1.60m hop. However, returning to the track, UMBC sweeps the 4x100 meter relay.
Back on the field, Junior Justin Glaze finishes in second place with a jump of 6.39m. Junior Omar Hassan continues his stunning career here at UMBC with another first place 1500m run with a time of 3:55.00. Followed by teammates Eric Schuler and Jonathan Luckin taking second and third. The squad of Afees Abolurin, James Oakley III, Gideon Ampofo-Williams, and Dariyan Miles finish first with a time of 42.70 seconds. At this point, both UMBC men and women's teams lead the pack in the meet.
The meet continues with the women's 400m dash. Senior, Paulette Fogle takes first with a time of 58.56 seconds. Second place also went to the Retrievers with senior, Abbey Kalane sprinting a 58.73 second race. With no surprise, Mercedes Jackson takes first place in the 100m dash, followed by teammates Tessa Seale, Mercedes Tillman and D'Nique Phillip placing second, third and fourth. Later, Madeleine Entwistle sprints a 15.20 second dash for first, and Briana Young sprinting a 15.74 for second. The women also take 100m Hurdles as well.
In addition, Gideon Ampofo-Williams sprints for fifth in the men's 100m dash. UMBC also found success in the men's 110m Hurdles. Junior Purcell Freeman places second with a 15.44 second dash.
Moving out to the field, UMBC continues the day's success taking first and third place in women's Hammer Throw. Junior Jennifer Nelson throws a 42.90m throw for first place, and Junior Nneoma Edokobi throws a 39.71m throw for third. Junior, Caitlyn Davis vaults into third place with a 2.70m rise.
Continuing on the field, Freshman Valerie Johnson places first in women's long jump with a 5.30m leap. Back to the track, the Retrievers find success in the women's 400m hurdles with Madeline Entwistle running a 1:06.28 to gain second place.
The men respond with John Rybak placing second the 400m Hurdles. In addition, Senior, Matt Rever places third in the 800m Run with a time of 1:57.41. Following, Jake Dibattista finishes second in Javelin throwing a 42.37m throw. Senior, Thomas Carman also finds success in men's Pole Vault taking second place.
UMBC Women raced passed the competition in the 200m dash, with Mercedes Jackson leading the way. She ran a 25.31 race to take first, followed by teammates D'Nique Phillp and Funmi Daramola taking second and third. Also, Senior, Blossom Metevier took first in Javelin with a throw of 32.45m.
The Retrievers look forward to next weekend when they return to the track in the Pepsi Florida Relays and the Colonial Relays at William and Mary.
