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Lianne Garrahan

PREVIEW: Dukes to Open Outdoor Season at 49er Classic in Charlotte

3/20/2025 10:30:00 AM

By: Ben Prantl
PITTSBURGH — The Duquesne men's and women's track and field teams open the outdoor season this Friday and Saturday at the 49er Classic in Charlotte.

MEET INFO  
Charlotte 49er Classic • Friday Mar. 21 - Saturday Mar. 22 • Charlotte, N.C. (Irwin Belk Track & Field Center)
MEET INFO / SCHEDULE  |  LIVE RESULTS / START LISTS 

SEASON PREVIEW
"We're excited to get started outdoors," fourth-year head coach Jeff Gibson said. "We had some time off between indoor and outdoor, and I think we're ready to get back out there and compete. Our goal is to match what we did last year during the outdoor season."

Last season, the Duquesne women's team set three program records and recorded an additional 12 top-five marks in school history. The Dukes finished third at the A-10 Championships with 101.2 points, earning 10 medals. Madelyn Moretti was named A-10 Co-Most Outstanding Field Performer after winning gold in the shot put and taking silver in the discus. Duquesne's 10 medals and third-place finish were the program's best marks since 2017.

Hannah Seitzinger (800m), Moretti (shot put), and Haley Hamilton (3,000m steeplechase) return after qualifying for NCAA Regionals last year — becoming the first Duquesne women's track and field athletes to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Championships since 2016.

The Dukes are coming off a strong indoor season in which Caroline Garbe, Seitzinger, and Moretti were named performer of the week, the most in a single season in program history. Freshman Rose Kuchera earned rookie of the week honors twice, the most by a Duquesne athlete in a single season since 2001. Amy Allen, Halle Walcutt, and Seitzinger were named to the All-Academic Team, the most Dukes selected since 2004.

Duquesne also had success at the A-10 Indoor Championships, with Walcutt, Seitzinger, and the relay team of Alyssa Willis, Eva Leatherman, Allen, and Seitzinger earning silver medals in the pentathlon, 500m, and 4x400m relay, respectively.

On the men's side, Duquesne returns two sophomores who recorded top-five performances in program history in their events — Vincent Rupp (high jump) and Christian Cupp (decathlon). Rupp also secured the Dukes' only medal at the 2024 A-10 Outdoor Championships with a podium finish in the high jump.

The men's roster includes 18 freshmen, 13 sophomores, nine juniors, and eight seniors or graduate students, while the women's team features 16 freshmen, eight sophomores, nine juniors, and 14 seniors or graduate students.

For Gibson and the Dukes, the 49er Classic is a chance to find their competitive rhythm and build momentum for a fast-paced outdoor season.

"We just want to get the kids racing again," Gibson said. "This will be a great opportunity to get back into competition."

Duquesne's outdoor schedule includes seven consecutive weekends of competition leading up to the Atlantic 10 Championships on May 3-4 at George Mason. The Dukes will get an early look at the A-10 venue on April 5 at the Dalton Ebanks Invitational.

The schedule also features a pair of local meets — the Carnegie Mellon Invitational next Saturday and the Saint Francis Father Bede Invitational on April 26. Midseason competitions include trips to Bucknell (April 12-13) and the University of Virginia (April 18-19).

DUKES COMPETING THIS WEEKEND FOLLOW THE DUKES 
Follow Duquesne Track and Field all season online at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on X, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqXCTF).
 
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