TAMPA, Fla. — The Boston University track & field team's outdoor season opened with five top 10 marks and a school record in the men's javelin at the USF Alumni Invitational on March 21, 2025. Senior Owen Faulha achieved an impressive feat by hitting a distance of 66.55 meters, breaking his school's previous javelin record of 64.94 meters, a title that had stood since 2006. Faulha's record-breaking throw came in his sixth attempt during the first event of the day, where he ultimately placed third among competitors.
Continuing the meet on Saturday, March 22, Boston University (BU) is looking to build upon their success, with streaming coverage beginning at noon on ESPN+. This early-season event has shown promise, as the Terriers are already showcasing a remarkable range of talent across different track and field events.
Highlighting the success of the day, sophomore Karsen Vesty made a significant impact by entering the outdoor top 10 rankings for the first time in his collegiate career. Vesty won the 800 meters with a impressive time of 1:49.12, ranking seventh all-time for the Terriers. Freshman Savannah Gao also made her debut with a strong performance in the javelin throw, recording a mark of 40.21m. This achievement placed her third all-time at BU, making her just the third Terrier to surpass the 40-meter mark in this discipline.
In addition to Vesty and Gao, junior Ijeoma Ezechukwu also shone brightly during the meet. Ezechukwu tied the 10th-best outdoor mark in program history with a time of 24.55 seconds in the women's 200 meters. This impressive performance added to the growing list of outstanding achievements by BU Track & Field athletes.
Notable performances were also recorded by sophomore Olivia Dodds and junior Ellie Roan. Dodds finished the 800 meters with a time of 2:10.06, moving her into ninth place all-time at Boston University. Roan had a strong showing in the hammer throw, achieving a distance of 59.91 meters, which improved her previous best from 2024 and secured her position as second all-time at BU in this event.
Among the other noteworthy competitors was reigning Patriot League long jump champion Peace Omonzane, who finished eighth in the long jump with a mark of 5.74 meters. Freshman Kendall Barnhart debuted impressively in the 400m hurdles, clocking in at 1:01.98, a great start for her outdoor season.
Beyond individual accolades, the team demonstrated collective strength with several top-notch performances across various events, showcasing the depth of talent the Terriers possess. In the men's results, a series of strong finishes were recorded, with Michael Onilogbo running the 200 meters in 21.57 seconds while Thomas Lamkin finished close behind at 22.05 seconds.
Additional men's performances included Micah Perry, who completed the 400m hurdles in 56.70 seconds. Owen Faulha, besides his impressive javelin success, also competed in the shot put, finishing with a distance of 16.22m. Joining him were teammates like Cole Tucker, who had a solid shot put effort (16.22m) and also competed in the hammer throw with a throw of 42.01m.
For the women's team, the 200 meters featured strong showings from Jada Smith, with a time of 24.82 seconds, Alexis Caggiano at 25.03 seconds under windy conditions (WIND +2.5), and Chinonye Moneme at 25.05 seconds. In the middle distances, Lily Borin clocked in at 2:11.20 in the 800m, while Maura Woodland-Medenilla followed closely at 2:11.76.
The depth of talent on the women's side was echoed in field events, as both Madison Sorrell and Olivia Hughes showcased their skills in the hammer throw, contributing notable marks as well. Sorrell had a throw of 34.38m, while Hughes managed a distance of 25.80m in the javelin.
As the meet progresses, there is great anticipation for more exciting performances from the Boston University track & field team. With a strong opening to the outdoor season, the team is poised for potential success that could redefine its legacy within collegiate athletics.
