Orange Set Nine New PRs

Friday, May 1

Princeton, NJ

Syracuse University

Larry Ellis Invitational

5/1/2026 11:13:00 PM | Track and Field

The Syracuse track and field teams opened their final regular season weekend of the season by competing at Princeton's Larry Ellis' Invitational and the East Coast Relays, hosted by North Florida.

Night one of competition saw nine new personal-bests set across the two meets.

At Princeton, Selma Anderson was runner-up in the 1,500-meter run after setting a new collegiate best time of 4:16.64. Emma Eastman (4:20.37) placed sixth. Carmen Luisi (4:29.26), Jayden Harberts (4:31.65), Gretta Johnson (4:32.79) and Madeline Heintz (4:33.13) also competed.

Drew Zundell was fourth in the elite section of the 1,500, posting a new PR time of 3:39.98. Ben Gabelman was 10th, also setting a PR, in 3:42.38. In the open section of the event, 'Cuse took five of the top-nine spots, led by event winner Charles Guerrera.

Guerrera set a personal-best time of 3:44.75. Assaf Harari was fifth (3:46.73), followed by Asher Danielson (3:47.29), Ruben Rojas Betanzos (3:47.39) and Connor Ackley (3:47.60), who finished in succession from seventh through ninth, all setting new career bests. Peter Walsdorf (3:49.39) and Louis Small (3:51.60) rounded out the field for the Orange.

Connell Alford (14:20.93) and Omar Alsaidi (14:22.63) placed 17th and 18th in the seeded 5,000-meters. Tristan Thurneysen and Andrew Walton each posted top-10 finishes in the open 5k. Thurneysen was seventh in 14:36.74 and Walton (14:47.63) was ninth.

Beatriz Fernandes (17:09.12) led the way in the 5,000-meter run, taking 11th in a new PR. Sarah Lawson (17:25.69) was 17th.

Julian Franjieh (8:58.66) was 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Mackenzie Cook (10:57.34) was 17th for the women.

At North Florida, Elijah Mallard took ninth in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 51.80 seconds. Emeline Clark was 14th in the women's race with a time of 1:00.79, a new personal best.

Indie Wallace-Persaud was the top Orange finisher in the 200-meter dash, taking 14th in 23.44 seconds, adding to the personal bests. Sierra Joesph (24.44 seconds), Nicea Jones (24.47 seconds) and Shayla Ford (25.25 seconds) also raced.

Action continues on Saturday at the East Coast Relays.