Rutgers Track & Field Shines at Scarlet Knights Open with Records, Wins, and Momentum-Building Performances
Under the bright lights of the Nike Track & Field Center at the Armory, Rutgers track and field made its lone home meet of the indoor season count. Hosting the Scarlet Knights Open, the squad delivered a statement performance, notching 11 event wins and 29 top-three finishes across both the men’s and women’s competitions.
But the headline moment? A family affair at the pole vault pit that ended with a new school record.
Brian O’Sullivan Flies High, Sets School Record
The biggest leap of the day-literally and figuratively-belonged to Brian O’Sullivan. The senior pole vaulter soared to 5.63 meters (18' 5.5"), breaking the Rutgers school record previously held by none other than his brother, Kevin O’Sullivan.
Brian’s mark not only earned him the event win but also cemented his name atop the program’s all-time list. Kevin, for his part, still had a strong showing, finishing second with a height of 5.33 meters (17' 5.75").
It’s not every day you see brothers go 1-2 in a Division I meet, let alone rewrite the school record book in the process. This was a special moment for the O’Sullivans-and for Rutgers track and field.
Men’s Field Events: Power, Precision, and Podiums
Rutgers’ men’s field athletes came ready to dominate. Malachi Yehudah cleared 2.03 meters (6' 8") in the high jump to snag first place, while Andrew Krall unleashed a 20.03-meter (65' 8.75") throw in the weight throw-good for the win and the second-best mark in program history.
The long jump featured a 2-3 Rutgers finish, with Sincere Robinson jumping 7.58 meters (24' 10.5") and Donavan Anderson close behind at 7.49 meters (24' 7"). In the triple jump, Joseph Oduro landed on the podium with a third-place finish at 15.55 meters (51' 0.25"). Shawn Brady added another third-place result in the shot put, reaching 15.84 meters (51' 11.75").
Men’s Track: Speed and Historic Times
On the track, Micah Lawson delivered one of the day’s standout performances. His 4:05.99 mile wasn’t just a personal best-it also landed him at No. 5 on Rutgers’ all-time list.
Lathan Brown also etched his name into the record books with a 1:18.73 in the 600 meters, matching Lawson’s No. 5 program ranking in his event. Gabriel Rodriguez (1:19.23) and Robert Poplau (1:19.83) weren’t far behind, giving Rutgers a strong showing in the mid-distance race.
Greg McQueen sprinted to second in the 60 meters with a time of 6.88, while Andrew Boakye clocked a 21.90 in the 200 meters to take second.
Women’s Team Dominates with Eight Event Wins
The women’s squad was on fire from start to finish, racking up eight event victories and showing depth across the board.
In the sprints, Naylah Jones (7.56) and Abby Love (7.57) went 1-2 in the 60 meters, while Llyric Driscoll took the 60-meter hurdles crown in 8.50 seconds. Paige Floriea was a double threat-winning the 200 meters in 24.64 and later taking the long jump with a leap of 6.18 meters (20' 3.5").
The 400-meter race was a Scarlet Knights sweep. Charlee Crawford led the way in 53.39, followed by Success Duruzor (55.04) and Sierra Latonnel (55.87). Alana Henry added a second-place finish in the 800 meters, clocking in at 2:12.60.
Women’s Field Events: More Gold, More History
The field events saw more Rutgers athletes step up in a big way. Jenovia Logan cleared 1.75 meters (5' 8.75") to win the high jump, with Alanna Woolfolk finishing second at 1.65 meters (5' 5"). In the triple jump, Ayotunde Folawewo took top honors with a 12.34-meter (40' 6") jump, while Driscoll added a third-place finish at 11.86 meters (38' 11").
Perhaps the most eye-popping performance came from Tey’ana Ames in the shot put. Her throw of 16.08 meters (52' 9.25") not only secured the win-it also marked the second-best throw in Rutgers history. Ciara Demarest rounded out the podium in third with a 13.66-meter (44' 9.75") effort.
Building Toward the Big Ten Championships
With the regular season winding down, this meet was more than just a homecoming-it was a tune-up for what’s ahead. Rutgers head coach Bobby Farrell summed it up well: “This was another opportunity to fine tune as we get closer to the Big Ten Championships. We had a few great performances, records and wins.”
The Scarlet Knights will head to Boston next for the Valentine Invitational on February 13, looking to build on this momentum and sharpen their edge as the postseason approaches.
If this weekend was any indication, Rutgers is rounding into form at just the right time.