Rothwell Sets Facility Record, Top-Five Time in Duke History on Day One of Charlotte Invitational

Friday, April 23

Charlotte, NC

Duke University

Day One at Charlotte Invitational

Cha'Mia Rothwell_Raleigh Relays_3.25.21_2

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Rothwell Sets Facility Record, Top-Five Time in Duke History on Day One of Charlotte Invitational

4/23/2021 10:41:00 PM | Track & Field

Results (PDF)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Duke track & field program earned several first-place finishes and one top-five mark in program history as the team completed day one of the Charlotte Invitational on Friday.

The afternoon got off to a strong start when senior Erin Marsh earned a first-place finish in the high jump. Marsh recorded a clearance of 1.73 meters (5-8 feet) and tallied the ninth win of her decorated collegiate career.

The Blue Devils delivered another dominant performance in the men's javelin, with graduate student Kiegan Lenihan and sophomore Luke Jackson taking first and second place, respectively. Lenihan has now won two javelin events this season, taking the win with a throw of 67.25m (220-7 feet).

For the third consecutive time this season, graduate student Cha'Mia Rothwell won her 100m hurdles event, recording a time of 13.33 seconds, but was joined by teammates Marsh (13.37 seconds) and graduate student Zoe Hughes (14.05 seconds) in second and third place, respectively. Rothwell's run broke a Charlotte facility record of 13.39 seconds, previously set by New York Elite's Kia Davis back in 2002.

Rothwell's great day wasn't finished, as the Durham, N.C., native also competed in the 200m for this first time this outdoor season. Rothwell clocked in a time of 23.53 seconds, winning the event with a collegiate personal best and setting the fourth-fastest mark in Blue Devils history. Her run also checks in as the 28th fastest in NCAA East Regional qualifying as of the start of competition on Friday. Right behind Rothwell was Marsh again, as the Buford, Ga., native ran a time of 24.18 seconds to finish third and set a season best in the event.

The evening concluded with strong showings in the men's and women's pole vault and men's and women's 3000m steeplechase. Graduate student Julia Valenti set a new collegiate personal best of 4.07m (13-4.25 feet) to finish second, while fellow graduate student Evan Lee added a collegiate personal best of his own, en route to a mark of 4.81m (15-9.25 feet) to finish third. In the 3000m steeplechase, freshman Victoria Patterson impressed, beating her personal best by nearly six seconds and winning her first collegiate event. Fellow steeplechase competitor Ryan Thompson took home third place in the men's event with a mark of 9:14.60.

Action will continue Saturday morning, with the Blue Devils set to start at 11 a.m. Redshirt senior Ben Beatty will compete in the men's shot put and sophomore Ezra Mellinger will compete in the men's long jump to start a packed day of competition.

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