COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University track and field program had an immense two-day effort at Ashland's Jud Logan Light Giver Invitational on Friday and Saturday. There, the Comets set four school records and numerous other program top-10 marks. 

The records that fell were the women's 200-meter dash – set by Kaylee Jackson – the men's 5,000-meter run – set by Justin Rona – and both the men's and women's 4x400-meter relays. 

Below is a summary of the weekend's top performances. 

MEN
60-meter dash: Cheik Souare clocked a time of 7.06 in a tightly contested prelim race. In qualifying heats, Mershaud Parked ran 7.16 seconds and Leighton Kordack clocked 7.26 seconds. 

200-meter dash: Mershaud Parker led a tight contingent of Comets, clocking a time of 22.33 seconds. That time is good for third all time in Capital history. Neko Henry was next with a time of 22.44 seconds, which is good for fifth all-time in Cap history. Darron Robinson clocked in at 22.45 seconds, which is sixth best in school history. Demetre Wheeler was next with 22.50 seconds, which is now seventh in school history. Cheik Souare ran a time of 22.52 seconds to round out the Comet contingent. 

400-meter dash: Darron Robinson clocked in at 49.73 seconds in his race, to launch himself up to third all-time in the event at Capital. Neko Henry catapulted himself into third overall in school history as he ran a time of 49.74 seconds. Demetre Wheeler was next for Cap, clocking a  time of 52.50 seconds. Trevor Estep clocked in at 59.60 seconds in his race. 

One mile run: Chip Smith ran the second fastest time in school history, clocking in at 4:18.07 in his mile race. The time comes in just .07 seconds off the school record, recently set by teammate Kolin Brake at 4:18.00. 

3,000-meter run: Aiden Mahony led the Comets contingent in the 3K with a time of 9:11.14, which is good enough to move him into 10th all-time in Capital history. Zach Glotzbecker was just behind in 9:11.58, followed by Ridwan Aliawl in 9:20.28. Aaron McNutt (9:43.47) and Jordan Hull (9:44.38) rounded it out for the Comets. 

5,000-meter run: Justin Rona broke the school record in the 5K race, breaking teammate Mikey Arnone's record set just two weeks ago. Rona clocked a time of 15:30.91 to claim the school record. Arnone himself was right behind with a time of 15:35.19. Dimetrius Floyd was next for Capital, clocking a time of 16:10.51 which was good to take over 10th all-time in Capital history. 

4x400-meter relay: The relay team of Neko Henry, Darron Robinson, Chip Smith and Mershaud Parker ran a new school record time of 3:23.08, shattering the previous record by more than three seconds. The prior record of 3:26.47 was set by the team of Josh Woods, Austin Noel, Ben Herbert, and Aaron Edues in 2013. 

Weight Throw: Nolan Piper placed 10th overall with a top throw of 14.85 meters. 

Shot Put: Nolan Piper threw a mark of 14.44 meters in his best throw, placing 11th overall. The distance was also good enough to move him into 10th all-time in school history. Waylon Yeager was next for Capital, throwing a mark of 13.67 meters. 

WOMEN
60-meter dash: Kaylee Jackson was the top Comet, clocking a time of 8.08 seconds, followed tightly by Jaleea Harvey in 8.15 seconds. Maria Da Cunha rounded it out with a time of 8.28 seconds. Da Cunha's time was a long awaited breakthrough to the top-10 list in school history as she now sits 10th all-time in school history. 

60-meter hurdles: Maria Da Cunha raced a time of 10.32 seconds. 

200-meter dash: Kaylee Jackson finally broke the school record after two very close attempts, this time running a time of 25.41 seconds which snapped the prior record from 2023. Maria Da Cunha was next for the Comets with a time of 26.87 seconds which was a personal best and improved her own standing of 10th all-time in Cap history. Isabella Johnson was next for the Comets with a time of 27.13 seconds, followed by Jaleea Harvey in 27.32 seconds and Juli Sprague in 28.86 seconds. 

400-meter dash: Juli Sprague led the team with a time of 1:03.25 seconds, while Isabella Johnson ran a time of 1:05.61. 

800-meter run: Shelby Janes ran a time of 2:24.13, which is good enough to move her up to fourth all-time in school history. Lauren Wynk was next for the Comets with a time of 2:30.71. 

One mile run: Laney Tarr ran a time of 5:21.36 to move herself into second all-time at Capital in the event. 

4x400-meter relay: The quartet of Maria Da Cunha, Kaylee Jackson, Shelby Janes and Juli Sprague ran a time of 4:03.26, which set a new school record. The new record beats out the previous mark of 4:04.14 set in 2011 by the team of Emma McCarron, Casey Simmons, Kwesi Seabrook, and Sarah Trick. 

Pole Vault: Claire Robinson finished fourth overall with a height of 3.40 meters. That height was also good enough to move her into sole possession of second best in Capital history. Alex Wilkinson was next for Capital, clearing a height of 3.10 meters to finish ninth.

High Jump: Brooklyn Herbert cleared the bar at 1.57 meters, which placed her in a seven-way tie for second in the meet. The height, however, was good to move her into sole possession of sixth best in school history. 

Long Jump: Jersie Papacostas placed 15th with a jump of 4.57 meters. 

Triple Jump: Larae Portis leaped a distance of 9.44 meters in her best attempt. 

Weight Throw: Mia Sanchez marked 9.42 meters in her best attempt, while Lillian Baker marked 8.56 meters in her best throw. 

UP NEXT
Capital will next compete at the All-Ohio Championships, hosted by Otterbein, on February 14th.