Fairfax, Va. - Junior Marie Abongwa set a school record in the hammer and earned two medals to lead UMBC's efforts at the 2025 George Mason Dalton Ebanks Invitational this weekend. 

Abongwa took the silver medal after her effort of 51.68 meters (169'7") in the hammer and placed third in the shot put with a toss of 13.62 meters (44'8.25").  UMBC Hall of Famer and Olympian Cleopatra Borel previously held the hammer mark.

The Retrievers excelled in a pair of relay events, taking gold and a silver. UMBC won the 4x100 with a time of 46.12. Sophomore Charliana Dacosta, junior Leanne McDonald, sophomore Genelle Stephens, and senior Za'kayza Parsons comprised the quartet. The 4x400 team (Stephens, McDonald, sophomore Shannel Sibblies, and sophomore Dalyce Schmdit) crossed the line in 3:47.05. 

Freshman Anna Creel was extremely impressive in a pair of sprint events. Creel finished second in the 100 meters (11.92) as well as the 200 meters (24.62). 

Stephens grabbed a bronze medal in the 400 meters (55.68). 

In addition to Creel, UMBC placed four in the top eight in the 100 meters. McDonald (12.00, 4th), Dacosta (12.06, 7th), and Parsons (12.07, 8th) all flashed elite speed.  
The Retrievers were also impressive in the 200 meters and 400 meters. McDonald (24.72, 4th), Dacosta (25.06, 8th), and freshman Faith Akinlami (25.15, 9th) finished among the top ten. Sibblies (56.97, 7th), Akinlami (57.32, 8th), and Schmidt (57.66, 10th) were behind Stephens in the 400 meters. 

Sophomore Lexi Tepper took ninth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:34.63, and junior Chia Nwankwo took fourth in the shot put (13.38 meters, 43'10.75").