Sophomore middle distance phenom Tinoda Matsatsa shattered his own NCAA Indoor Track and Field record in the men’s 1000 meters, clocking a time of 2:16.84, to cap a successful day of competition for the Georgetown University track and field team at the Nittany Lion Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Graduate middle distance runner Abel Teffra followed Matsatsa closely in the 1000m, delivering a time of 2:17.39 to clinch the second-fastest time in collegiate history.
Assistant Coach Brandon Bosney lauded Matsatsa and Teffra for their performances, saying he expects strong results for the rest of the season.
“Tinoda and Abel are two of the best young middle distance prospects in the U.S.,” Bosney told Georgetown Athletics. “I figured this would happen but it still was really cool to see. Breaking an NCAA record can’t be taken for granted.”
“They are both heading back to D.C. happy and excited for what the rest of the season has in store,” Bosney added.
Elsewhere on the track, first-year sprinter Jaden Marchan earned a second-place finish in the men’s 400 meters, finishing in a time of 47.11. The finish represents the second-fastest time in school history and the continuation of strong performances by the program’s influx of young talent.
Junior sprinter Nicholas Givan finished sixth in the same event, running a time of 49.84.
In the men’s 3000 meters, first-year middle distance runner Colin Kirkpatrick took first place with a time of 8:09.84. Teammates junior Charlie North and sophomore Akshay Vadul, both distance runners, finished in fifth and tenth, respectively, with times of 8:18.53 and 8:24.41.
The Hoyas secured the fourth, fifth and sixth spots in the men’s 800 meters, finishing just off the podium. Sophomore middle distance runner Furious Clay ran a 1:50.52, with senior middle distance runner Matthew Griffin and junior middle distance runner Daniel McCarthy following close behind in 1:51.28 and 1:52.91, respectively.
In the men’s 4×400 relay, Givan, Matsatsa, Teffra and Marchan teamed for a third-place finish, clocking a time of 3:15.31.
On the women’s side, graduate sprinter Rebecca Ochan excelled in the 400m, taking second place in 56.46 seconds.
In addition, first-year sprinter Paris Coleman stormed through the women’s 60-meter hurdles to finish in fifth with a time of 8.82. Coleman also finished seventh in the long jump with a mark of 5.40 meters.
Director of track and field and cross-country Alton McKenzie said he was particularly impressed by Ochan’s and Marchan’s performances in the 400m and is excited to witness their improvement throughout the rest of the season.
“With getting back into full swing after winter break, we had a few highlights from today’s meet,” McKenzie told Georgetown Athletics. “Two runner-up finishes in the 400m were noteworthy.”
“We’ll look to continue making progress across all event groups as the indoor season continues,” McKenzie added.
For his record-breaking effort in the 1000m, Matsatsa was named the Big East male track athlete of the week for the second time this season.
Having already broken the school record in the mile in the season’s opening meet, racing to a 3:54.15 finish, Matsatsa looks primed for a strong finish to the indoor season.
Bosney said the ceiling is particularly high for such an athlete as Matsatsa.
“He’s far ahead of where he was at this time last year,” Bosney told Georgetown Athletics. “He’s a very exciting talent, and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes the rest of this season.”
The Georgetown Track and Field team will continue its season at the Hokie Invitational hosted by Virginia Tech Jan. 24 and 25.
