Orange Grab Event Wins at Pair of Meets

Friday, April 18

Albany, NY

TBA

Syracuse University

Bobbi Palma Spring Classic

4/19/2025 9:23:00 AM | Track and Field

Four event wins and a number of PRs highlighted a busy day on the track for the Syracuse track and field teams. The Orange competed at both the Virginia Challenge and the UAlbany Bobbi Palma Spring Challenge.

At UVA, Baneet Bains won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a new season-best time of 10:25.12. Justus Holden-Betts placed ninth in 10:47.45.

Omar Alsaidi picked up the second win of the night in the men's 5k, setting a new personal-best time of 14:17.60. Ruben Rojas Betanzos (14:27.85) was eighth, followed by Sam Ricchiuti (14:41.81) and Connell Alford (14:59.21)

Julian Franjieh set a new PR in the men's steeplechase, crossing the line in 8:43.47, taking eighth. Solomon Holden-Betts was two spots back in 9:04.73.

Ethan Wechsler (30:29.54) was fifth in the 10k, followed by Gabriel Planty (31:15.62), who finished ninth.

Heidi Demeo set a season-best time in the 1,500-meter run, placing 10th in 4:19.99.

At UAlbany, the Orange men's hurdlers swept the top-four places and five of the top-six spots in the final of the 110-meter hurdles. Emmanuel Joseph led the way with a PR time of 13.85 seconds, followed by Naseem Smith in 14.11 seconds, Isaish Lewis (14.24 seconds) and Isaiah Hayes (14.29 seconds), to sweep first through fourth. David Peters (14.87) placed sixth.

Olivia Joly (4:42.69) and Leah Futey (4:43.65) took the top-two spots in the 1,500-meter run. Futey's time was a new personal best. Lucy Zombek (5:48.00) and Kayla Harding (6:03.60), placed 17th and 18th, respectively.

The Orange 4x100-meter relay squads each finished runner-up. The women's team of Olivia Garner, Iaunia Pointer, Peyton Rollins and Kahniya James turned in a time of 47.73 seconds, just over a second off the pace for the top spot.

The men's team of James Nmah, Darrell Gill Jr., Malachi Coleman and Malachi James turned in a season-best time of 40.49 seconds, just behind UAlbany's mark of 39.73 seconds.

James was also second in the 100-meter dash, crossing the line in 10.29 seconds. Nmah placed ninth (10.83).

Taleea Buxton took second in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 13.55 seconds. Rollins was fourth (13.86), followed by Madison Ceasar (13.96) in sixth and Marissa Saunders (15.04) in ninth.

Ceasar went on to place second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:04.71.

Shayla Ford also turned in a second-place finish for the Orange in the 400-meter dash, finishing with a time of 59.28 seconds. Teammate Mia Hernandez (1:03.13) was fourth.

Blake Parker finished fourth in the 800-meter run (2:27.07), while Mia Hernandez (26.29 seconds) was fourth in the 200-meter dash.