First-year sprinter Jaden Marchan broke a long-standing school record in the men’s 500-meter race, finishing first in a swift 1:01.55, to highlight a strong slate of performances for the Georgetown University track and field team at the Penn State National Open on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
First-year middle distance runner Natanael Vigo Catala followed Marchan closely in the same event to claim third place in 1:03.37, good for 13th all-time in the Hoyas’ record book.
On the women’s side, senior middle distance standouts Melissa Riggins and Chloe Scrimgeour excelled in the mile, finishing first in 4:30.47 and fifth in 4:34.67, respectively. Riggins’ mark represents the 10th best time in the NCAA this season.
Head Coach Alton McKenzie paid special attention to Marchan’s and Riggins’ performances.
“For our women, the meet was highlighted by a dominant performance from Melissa Riggins who ran 30.47 in the mile, a time that’s currently 10th fastest in the NCAA,” McKenzie told Georgetown Athletics. “On the men’s side, freshman Jaden Marchan broke a long-standing men’s 500 school record with a personal-best 1:01.55.”
The combination of continued upperclassmen success — be it Riggins, Scrimgeour or graduate middle distance runner Abel Teffra — with the development of young talent — highlighted by Marchan and sophomore middle distance runner Tinoda Matsatsa — should position the program nicely for the Big East Indoor Championships at the end of this month.
Teffra and Matsatsa, who broke the NCAA Indoor Track and Field record in the men’s 1000-meter two weeks ago, did not run at the Penn State National Open.
Elsewhere on the track, first-year middle distance runners James Dunne and Colin Kirkpatrick took fourth and seventh place in the men’s 1000, clocking times of 2:22.52 and 2:24.94, respectively.
In the men’s 3000-meter, sophomore distance runner Birhanu Harriman grabbed fourth place with a time of 8:06.93, and in the men’s mile, graduate middle distance runner Theo Woods ran a 4:03.41 en route to a fifth-place finish.
On the women’s side, sophomore sprinter Abbie Huey finished in seventh place in the 400-meter, clocking a time of 54.85.
First-year middle distance runner Hannah Andrejczyk added another seventh-place result in the women’s 1000, running a time of 2:56.85.
Mckenzie said he is excited to see the continued excellence of his program at future meets.
“As we head into February, we anticipate seeing more high-level performances as the season intensifies,” McKenzie said. “We’re looking forward to those opportunities to compete in the coming weeks.”
The Hoyas have two meets Feb. 8, with the team divided between the Penn Collegiate Classic in Philadelphia, Penn., and the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitation hosted by Boston University. Both should be opportunities for Georgetown’s athletes to showcase their talent.