Duke Track & Field Comes Out Firing, Shatters Records at JDL Mondo College Invitational
After a month-long break, Duke track and field wasted no time reminding everyone why they're a force to be reckoned with. The Blue Devils hit the ground running-literally-at the JDL Mondo College Invitational in Winston-Salem, turning in a dominant performance that saw records fall across the board.
Seventeen Duke athletes posted meet-record marks in eight different track events. That’s not just a hot start to the new year-it’s a statement. The team walked away with seven event victories, 22 podium finishes, and a handful of performances that now sit among the top five in program history.
Sprint Squad Sets the Tone
Let’s start with the sprints, where Duke’s women’s team didn’t just win-they rewrote the record books.
Senior Lauren Tolbert laid down a monster effort in the 600 meters, clocking 1:28.27 to take the win. That time didn’t just beat the previous 2024 mark-it obliterated it by over six seconds. It also reset the college and facility records she already owned, proving she’s still raising the bar in her final season.
In the 200 meters, Braelyn Baker continued her breakout campaign with a blistering 23.52-second finish to grab her second win of the season. That time not only topped the meet record, but it also wiped out both the facility and college records-each standing for four or more years. Safe to say, Baker’s putting her stamp on this season in bold ink.
The women’s 4x400m relay team brought the house down. The ‘A’ squad-Taylor Aska, Braelyn Baker, Arabella Wilson, and Lauren Tolbert-blew away the field and the record books with a 3:36.91 finish.
That’s nearly nine seconds faster than the previous meet record and comfortably ahead of the runner-up. The baton chemistry?
On point.
Sophomore Maya Collins held her own spotlight in the 60 meters. After tying the school record in prelims with a 7.38, she went even faster in the final-7.36 seconds-to win the event and set a new meet record. That’s how you close.
Depth on Display
It wasn’t just the winners making noise. Bailey Goggans and Amber Wimbish both ran under the previous meet record in the 600m. Goggans’ 1:29.35 earned her second place and moved her to No. 4 all-time at Duke, while Wimbish clocked 1:30.81 to take fourth.
Junior Mia Edim pulled double duty in the 60m and 200m, finishing second in both while setting meet records. Her 7.38 in the 60m puts her just behind Collins in Duke’s all-time ranks, and her 24.15 in the 200m was another standout mark.
In the seeded 200m, graduate student Lauren Phillips (24.16) took third, with Aska and Meredith Sims also landing top-10 finishes. On the men’s side, Quinton Godfrey ran 21.38 for third place, a time good enough for No. 2 all-time at Duke. Colin O’Malley wasn’t far behind at 21.83.
The men’s 4x400m relay team-Godfrey, Andres Langston, Langston Thomas, and Riley Newport-clocked 3:16.22 to place third and notch another meet record. Meanwhile, the women’s ‘B’ relay team of Phillips, Goggans, Wimbish, and Olivia Hughes finished second with a strong 3:45.84.
Dario Rock added his name to the record books in the 60m hurdles, running 8.07 in prelims to set a meet record and move into No. 3 all-time at Duke. Langston also delivered a personal best in the 400m, running 47.89 to finish third.
Field Events Hold Their Own
Duke wasn’t just making waves on the track. The field event crew brought their own fireworks, collecting 10 podium finishes and sweeping the men’s and women’s pole vault.
In his collegiate debut, freshman Karl Pohlak looked like a seasoned vet. He passed on the first nine heights, then cleared 4.60m, 4.75m, and finally 4.90m (16-0.75 feet) to win the event.
On the women’s side, senior Allison Neiders was in a class of her own. She cleared 4.18m (13-8.5 feet)-the only competitor to go over four meters-and won by more than two feet. That’s dominance.
In the men’s long jump, grad student Max Forte delivered the only mark over seven meters, leaping 7.31m (23-11.75 feet) on his fourth attempt to take the win.
John Fay, another graduate transfer making his Duke debut, impressed in the weight throw. He saved his best for last, launching a 19.74m (64-9.25 feet) on his sixth attempt to finish second and move into No. 4 on Duke’s all-time list.
What’s Next
With the rust officially shaken off-and then some-Duke now turns its attention to next week’s JDL ASICS Superblast Invitational, also in Winston-Salem. If this past weekend was any indication, the Blue Devils are just getting warmed up.