Campbell and Mpigachai Excel as Bears Post Nationally Ranked Performances at Graduate Classic

Saturday, January 18

Lincoln, NE

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Graduate Classic Invitational

1/18/2025 4:41:00 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

LINCOLN, Neb. – Northern Colorado track and field closed out an exciting second day at the Graduate Classic Invite on Saturday, showcasing standout performances, personal bests, and a strong team effort at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Junior Jerome Campbell shined in the men's 60-meter hurdles, securing first place with a blazing time of 7.69. His performance not only won the event but also solidified his status as one of the top hurdlers in the region, ranking ninth in the NCAA.

The men's 200 meters saw freshmen Zander Cruzan and Floyd Samuels Jr. lead the way for the Bears. Cruzan clocked a personal-best time of 21.74 to finish fifth, while Samuels followed closely with a time of 21.80, placing eighth overall. Edgar Garcia also contributed with a solid performance, finishing 14th in 22.36.

In the men's 600 meters, senior Donovan Castillo ran a personal-best 1:21.00 to finish eighth. Fellow senior Nathan Plant followed with a personal-best 1:21.79 for 12th place, while senior Colton Magnuson clocked 1:27.43, finishing 17th.

For the women, senior Regina Mpigachai delivered a dominant performance in the 800 meters, claiming first place with a time of 2:07.14, the ninth-best time in the nation this season. Senior Summer Olson added an 11th-place finish in 2:21.23.

In the women's triple jump, freshman Jaelynn Lane led the Bears with a sixth-place mark of 11.16m. Junior Kiana Van Haaren followed closely in seventh with a jump of 11.06m, while freshman Savanna Amack finished ninth with a mark of 10.47m.

The men's 4x400-meter relay team of Donovan Castillo, Edgar Garcia, Floyd Samuels Jr., and Zander Cruzan capped off the weekend with an impressive first-place finish. Their time of 3:17.77 ranks 64th nationally for the 2025 season and highlights the team's depth and competitiveness.

Coach's Corner
"I was very pleased with Friday and Saturday's efforts," said Director of Track and Field Wayne Angel. "In this type of meet, the critical thing we as coaches check for is the focus and competitiveness of our athletes. I really thought we did a great job of staying competitive as a team. We have been training very hard, and in many instances, athletes were competing on heavy legs. But we competed hard as a team, and for that, I am grateful and proud. If we continue to trust the process and compete with pride and intensity, the results will follow in due time."

Angel also highlighted the standout performances from the weekend. "This was a great opening for Jerome and Regina in their specialty events. They are very strong and on track to do something special at the end of the season. We also had some respectable performances all around. We had some good things happen for us today, and that is important for team morale and helping this team achieve their goals."

Day 2 Highlights at a Glance
- Jerome Campbell won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.69, ranking him ninth nationally.
- Regina Mpigachai's 800-meter time of 2:07.14 ranks ninth nationally.
- The men's 4x400-meter relay team clocked 3:17.77, ranking 64th in the nation.

Northern Colorado Results | Graduate Classic – Day 2

Men
200 Meters
5. Zander Cruzan – 21.74
8. Floyd Samuels Jr. – 21.80
14. Edgar Garcia – 22.36

600 Meters
8. Donovan Castillo – 1:21.00 (PR)
12. Nathan Plant – 1:21.79 (PR)
17. Colton Magnuson – 1:27.43

60-Meter Hurdles
1. Jerome Campbell – 7.69

4x400-Meter Relay
3. Northern Colorado – 3:17.77

Women
800 Meters
1. Regina Mpigachai – 2:07.14
11. Summer Olson – 2:21.23

Triple Jump
6. Jaelynn Lane – 11.16m
7. Kiana Van Haaren – 11.06m
9. Savanna Amack – 10.47m

Up Next
The Bears will split up, with some of the team traveling to College Station, Texas on Jan. 24-25 for the Ted Nelson Invite. The rest of the team will head to Colorado Springs, Colo. for the UCCS Invite on Jan. 25.

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