Track & Field Has Strong Showing at Season Opener

Saturday, December 7

Boston, MA

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

Photo by: Chris Cabret

12/7/2024 5:38:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, Track & Field, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

BOSTON - The Northern Colorado track and field team opened the 2024 indoor season with a strong showing at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, breaking three program records in the women's mile, 300-meter, and men's 400-meter events.

Freshman Zander Cruzan set the tone by winning the 400-meter with a record-breaking time of 46.73, surpassing Kyle Thomas' 2018 mark of 47.13. Cruzan's time currently leads the nation.

Senior Regina Mpigachai broke her own school record in the mile, finishing eighth out of 59 entries with a time of 4:37.23, two seconds faster than her 2022 performance.

Freshman Precious Nzeakor claimed the program record in the 300-meter, clocking in at 39.71 to beat Wendira Moss' 2022 record of 39.87. Nzeakor finished fifth in the event and also secured first place in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.53, which ranks third in UNC history. Additionally, Nzeakor placed third in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 4.75 inches (5.30 meters).

Sophomore Alexia Austin finished first in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.58. She also competed in the 60-meter dash, posting a time of 7.90.

Senior Wendira Moss finished second in the 400-meter with a time of 56.27 and narrowly missed first place in the 200-meter by two-tenths of a second.

Junior Jerome Campbell placed first in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.79 and took second in the 200-meter, running 21.55.

Junior Moise Bennett finished ninth in the 200-meter with a time of 22.71 and claimed second in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.37.

Newcomer Floyd Samuels Jr. placed third in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.94, just ahead of teammate Edgar Garcia, who finished at 6.95.

"Our Bears delivered their best performance at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Invitational since we started attending three years ago," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Wayne Angel said. "We won four individual events and broke three school records. Zander Cruzan's first-place finish in the 400-meter, with a time of 46.73, really stood out. His time leads the nation in December. I'm so proud of Northern Colorado and how they represented Greeley today."

Up Next
The Bears will make the short trip to Colorado Springs, Colo. on Dec. 13 for the UCCS Pre Holiday Invite. The two-day event is hosted by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and will take place at the Mountain Lion Fieldhouse.

For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the cross country and track and fields teams on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsTFXC), and Instagram (@UNC_BearsXCTF).