Fairfax, Va. – The Duquesne University track and field teams opened the 2026 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships with four medals and lead the women's team standings with 32 points after Day One at George Mason Stadium.
The men's team scored seven points and sits eighth through one day of competition. Freshman
Nick Keller improved his 400-meter program record in the prelims.
MEDALISTS
Duquesne's four medals all came in field events.
Sophomore
Nadia Constantakis took bronze in the pole vault, clearing 3.58 meters (11-9).
Freshmen
Makayla Keck and
Mary Grusky earned silver and bronze, respectively, in the javelin. Keck recorded a throw of 48.94 meters (160-7), while Grusky followed at 46.64 meters (153-0) as the Dukes totaled four scorers in the event.
Sophomore
Rose Kuchera added a bronze medal in the long jump with a mark of 5.93 meters (19-5.5), earning a spot on the podium for the second consecutive season.
SCORERS
Megan Penrod (41.61m / 136-6) and
Mia Pierce (35.62m / 116-10) placed fourth and eighth, respectively, in the javelin.
Louie Liberatore finished fifth in the men's javelin with a throw of 58.22 meters (191-0), while
Greg Tindle recorded a personal-best 54.99 meters (180-5) to place eighth.
Ben Shields placed seventh in the 10,000 meters with a time of 32:06.35.
ADVANCING TO SUNDAY
Nick Keller lowered his program record in the 400 meters with a 47.02, winning his heat to advance to the final. He also qualified for the 200-meter final with a heat-winning time of 21.26. The 400-meter final is set for 12:15 p.m., with the 200-meter final at 1:20 p.m.
Anna Rorrer (14.01) and
Rose Kuchera (14.22) advanced to the 100-meter hurdles final. Rorrer also qualified for the 400-meter hurdles final after winning her heat in 1:01.23, while
Eva Leatherman followed in 1:01.76 to also advance. The 100-meter hurdles final is scheduled for 11:45 a.m., with the 400-meter hurdles final at 12:55 p.m.
Melani Schmidt won her 400-meter heat in 55.55 and also advanced in the 200 meters with a time of 24.54. Finals are scheduled for 12:10 p.m. (400 meters) and 1:15 p.m. (200 meters).
Sylvia Kashak won her heat of the 800 meters in 2:09.99 to secure a spot in Sunday's final at 12:40 p.m.
Sophomores
Isaac Wetzel (54.01) and
Colm McGroarty (54.41) both advanced to the 400-meter hurdles final, scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
NOTES
Sophomores
Megan Palinski (hammer throw – 41.24m / 135-4),
Belal Abdelrahman (400-meter hurdles – 56.44) and
Sam Freedman (1500 meters – 3:59.73) each recorded personal bests ... Junior
Cydney Blahovec ran a personal-best 2:15.62 in the 800-meter prelims, while senior
Sam de la Riva clocked a personal-best 1:52.81 in the same event.
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