The Track and Field team continued its strong spring season with a competitive showing at the prestigious Princeton Elite Invitational, hosted this past weekend at Weaver Stadium. Facing off against some of the top collegiate programs in the region, the team delivered several standout performances, highlighted by freshman standout Isabel Fernandez placing fourth in the women’s 400-meter dash and senior sprinter Kiara Booker finishing fifth in the women’s 100-meter sprint.
The Princeton Elite meet, known for its fast track and deep field of athletes, provided the perfect stage for athletes to test themselves ahead of upcoming championship qualifiers. Fernandez, who has been building momentum all season, demonstrated poise and power in the 400m, clocking a personal best of 54.62 seconds. Her time marks not only her fastest of the season but also the second-fastest in school history.
“I felt really good coming out of the curve,” Fernandez said following the race. “I’ve been working a lot on my last 100 meters, and I could feel the difference today. There’s still more work to do, but I’m happy with the progress.”
Fernandez’s fourth-place finish came in a stacked field featuring several athletes ranked in the top 50 nationally. Her result solidifies her as a strong contender heading into the conference championships, and she continues to improve with each meet.
Also turning heads was senior Kiara Booker, who sprinted to a fifth-place finish in the women’s 100m dash with a time of 11.87 seconds. Booker, known for her explosive starts, battled a slight headwind in the finals but managed to hold her own in a highly competitive race. Her performance is her third consecutive top-five finish this season, a testament to her consistency and veteran leadership.
“It wasn’t the cleanest race I’ve had, but I stayed focused and just pushed through the last meters,” said Booker. “These are the kinds of races that make you sharper. I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
Beyond Fernandez and Booker, the team saw solid performances across the board. Junior Leah Daniels placed seventh in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:09.34, and the women’s 4x400m relay team finished sixth in a season-best time of 3:45.89. On the men’s side, sophomore sprinter Chris Mabry narrowly missed the finals in the 200m, finishing tenth overall with a personal best of 21.47 seconds.
Head coach Marcus Taylor expressed pride in the team’s effort and growth. “This meet is always a great measuring stick. We saw a lot of athletes step up today, and we’re moving in the right direction. Isabel and Kiara really led the way, but everyone brought energy.”
With championship season quickly approaching, the team now turns its focus to final tune-ups and strategic training. The results from Princeton Elite have provided valuable feedback and a clear sense of where the team stands among elite competition.
As the postseason looms, Fernandez and Booker’s performances serve as a reminder of the team’s depth and potential. With continued preparation and focus, Track and Field looks poised to make an impact in the coming weeks.
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