Anderson Sets One of Nation's Top Times in 1500

Friday, April 17

Charlottesville, VA

Syracuse University

Virginia Challenge

4/17/2026 11:08:00 PM | Track and Field

Benne Anderson set a meet record and a new personal-best to win the 1,500-meter run at the Virginia Challenge.

Anderson finished in 3:37.20, the third-fastest time nationally to date this season. Drew Zundell (3:41.75) was 10th. Charles Guerrera won the open section of the event by nearly two full seconds, by finishing in 3:45.29. Teammate Asher Danielson turned in a personal-best time of 3:48.33 to take sixth.

Selma Anderson (4:16.69) was fourth in the invite section of the 1,500 for the women.

Julian Franjieh was eighth in the seeded section of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:02.99. Omar Alsaidi took third in his section of the event, finishing in 9:15.89.

In the 5k invite, Jayden Harberts placed 10th in 16:40.36, while Carmen Luisi set a PR in 16:40.74 to finish one spot behind. The men saw Ben Gabelman finish 21st (14:19.08) and Connell Alford take 25th (14:52.33).

In the open section, Ruben Rojas Betanzos was sixth in 14:26.06, followed two spots behind by Tristan Thurneysen, who turned in a new personal best time of 14:35.11. Gretta Johnson (17:29.93) was 14th in the women's event.

The Orange also competed at UAlbany's Bobbi Palma Spring Classic, 'Cuse turned in three event victories.

Indie Wallace-Persaud won the 200-meter dash in a PR time of 23.49 seconds. She led the Orange, which took the top-three spots and four of the top-five in the event. Sierra Joseph (24.08 seconds) and Nicea Jones (24.31 seconds), took second and third, followed by Shayla Ford (24.85 seconds) in fifth. Mia Hernandez (25.56 seconds) was 11th, followed two spots later by Esther Ganda (25.58 seconds). Nylah Robinson placed 34th and Andrea Pomales finished 38th to round out the 'Cuse competitors in the event.

Jones won the 400-meter dash in 54.63 seconds. Samantha Bloch and Kayla Harding finished 15th and 19th, respectively.

Isaiah Hayes won the 110-meter hurdles for the Orange, crossing the line in 14.36 seconds.

Peyton Rollins (13.76 seconds) finished second in the 100-meter hurdles, while Emeline Clark (13.83 seconds) was fourth.

In a deep 100-meter dash field, 'Cuse took three of the top-seven spots. Wallace-Persaud was second (11.64 seconds), followed by Joseph in fifth (11.80 seconds) and Ganda in seventh (12.20 seconds). Ford (12.39 seconds) was 11th, followed by Jada Williams and Bianca Williams in 20th and 24th, respectively. Nasir Adams (11.77 seconds) was 16th in the men's event.

Blake Parker (4:51.34) was runner-up in the 1,500-meters, setting a new personal best.

Ivana Richards (1:05.82) and Billie Frazier (1:05.99) finished back-to-back in the 400-meter hurdles, taking ninth and 10th.

The Orange return to action on Tuesday at the Ithaca College Invitational.