Malanda Opens Outdoor Season with Triple Jump Victory
3/25/2022 9:32:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
RALEIGH, N.C. – Alexandre Malanda won the men's triple jump on Saturday as Kent State posted 14 top-25 performances on the second day of competition at the Raleigh Relays.
Malanda's winning jump of 51'-5.50" puts him fifth on the Golden Flashes' all-time outdoor triple jump performance list. Anthony Milliner placed 14th with a mark of 46'-7.25".
Grace Tennant and Aliesha Shaw started the day strong in the women's discus throw. Tennant had a best throw of 167'-3" to finish fifth and Shaw placed 10th in her first collegiate outdoor competition with a mark of 153'-6". On the men's side, three Flashes finished in the top-25. Jeff Neuhaus led the way in 13th with a throw of 163'-2", while Jake Wickey (156'-11") and Nolan Landis (155'-5") placed 21st and 24th, respectively.
It was a big day for Kent State's hurdlers, as all three competitors finished in the top 16, including a pair of times that rank in the top 10 in program history. Alexander Shields matched the fifth-fastest time by a Flash, crossing the finish line in 14.14 seconds to finish 10th in the men's 110-meter hurdles. Jacob Mally placed 12th in 14.60 seconds. Benja Duff's time of 13.99 seconds in the women's 100-meter hurdles is eighth on Kent State's all-time performance list.
Kristian Kneffler cleared 15'-7.25" in his 2022 debut to place seventh in the men's pole vault invitational.
Lillie Franks cleared three bars and tied for eighth in the women's high jump with a height of 5'-7". In the men's competition, Jack McElligott and Jacob Mally both cleared 6'-4.75", finishing tied for 11th and 17th, respectively.
Nick Stricklen was the fifth Flash to etch his name in program's record book, finishing the 10,000-meter run in 30:07.88, which put him at No. 8 all-time.
The Raleigh Relays will conclude on Saturday with 18 Kent State student-athletes entered for individual competition, in addition to four relay squads. The men's hammer throw will get the day started at 9:45 a.m.
Players Mentioned
