Yale Athletics

Many of Yale’s track and field athletes competed in the UConn Northeast Challenge on Friday and Saturday during the Bulldogs’ second visit to the University of Connecticut in three weeks.

After three weekends of competition, most of Yale’s track and field team took a break from competition, while a small group of athletes headed up to Storrs. The Bulldogs had several PRs and podium finishes over the course of the weekend. Although the women did not notch any points at the meet, the men’s team racked up 43, putting them at eighth place out of 21 teams.

“Small group of athletes this week,” Coach Shoehalter wrote to the News. “Much of the team had competed three weekends in a row. We had always planned for this weekend to be a lower key week where those who needed a competition would have that opportunity.”

On the men’s side of events, the throwers led the Bulldogs’ charge, with Matt Appel ’24 placing second in the discus with a 54.61m throw and Chris Ward ’24 placing first in the shot put with a 17.49m hurl. Other notable Bulldogs included Austin Montini ’25, winning his 1500m heat with a 3:53.17 PR, and the duo of Drake Prince ’24 and Thomas Cirrito ’24, who took home second and third place in the 800m dash with times of 1:49.66 and 1:49.90, respectively. 

Also notching PRs were Justin Yazdi ’23 in the 100m with a time of 10.99, Simon Jupp ’25 in the 200m with a 22.52 finish and Colin Quinn ’25 in the 400m with a time of 50.16.

Ward, who captured his first collegiate victory in the meet, has been steadily improving all season, adding nearly three and a half meters on his shot put so far.

“It’s a great feeling to have finally won a meet,” Ward told the News. “It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited to see my work paying off. Sometimes I get frustrated that I haven’t hit the bigger throw that I know is there, but it’s definitely important to realize how far I’ve come since last year. Overall, I’m happy with how things are going and I’m excited to keep improving.”

Personal records also abounded for the women’s team. On Friday, Kiera Suh ’26 set a PR in the long jump with a 5.42m leap. Samantha Friborg ’23 ran a 2:05.92 in the 800m, her fastest time since February. On Saturday, Larissa Giles ’25 set a PR in the 100m dash with a time of 12.76, and Bella Bergloff ’24 PR’ed in the shot put with a throw of 12.85m. 

Other notable performers were Karen Kirunda ’23 in the triple jump with a mark of 11.00m and Kyra Pretre ’24 in the 1500m with a time of 4:29.42, a second off her personal best.

Bergloff, who was one of many Bulldog throwers to have a strong weekend, noted the friendly support among Yale’s prominent group of throwers this year.

“I think sometimes people think that when you are competing against your friends it can be a little uncomfortable and too competitive,” Bergloff wrote to the News. “But our throws squad this year has been nothing but supportive, and our joint success has motivated us each to do better at every meet, and keep these personal bests coming. It’s exciting to be a part of this group.”

Next weekend, Yale’s teams will split up, with middle distance and distance runners heading to the University of Virginia. Sprinters, jumpers and throwers will travel to Georgia Tech. The rest of the athletes will stay home in New Haven to host the Mark Young Invitational.