Hayles Posts Top-10 Time and Mallard Breaks Record at VT Invite

Syracuse’s track and field teams started the new year with strong performances, as one member of the Orange posted one of the 10-best times nationally in his event, while another broke a 10-year-old school record at the Virginia Tech Invitational on Friday night.

Jaheem Hayles made his season debut in statement fashion, posting one of the top-10 60-meter hurdles times nationally this season to date.

An outdoor All-American last season, Hayles crossed the line in 7.86 seconds, which ties for the ninth-fastest mark on the year in the country. He bested the field by nearly two tenths of a second, with Virginia’s Peter Djan finishing second in 8.05 seconds.

Hayles wasn’t the only member of the Orange to reach the finals on Friday night. Anthony Vazquez took third overall in 8.08 seconds and Naseem Smith finished sixth in 8.16 seconds.

Later in the evening, Elijah Mallard broke the program’s record for the 300-meter dash. Elijah Mallard crossed the line in 34.65 seconds, 0.16 seconds faster than Jaquan Holland’s time from 2013. Mallard’s time was good for ninth at the meet. Through three meets, it’s already the second school record set this season after Amanda Vestri broke the program’s 5k record in December.

Shaleah Colaire (8.73 seconds) took ninth in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, 0.01 seconds out of advancing to the final. Peyton Rollins crossed the line in 8.98 seconds, which was good for 14th.

Kahniya James turned in a new season-best time of 7.47 seconds in the 60-meter dash, taking second. Kaleia Arrington (7.942) and Rollins (9.943) took 14th and 15th, respectively.

Trei Thorogood finished sixth in the men’s final with a mark of 6.83 seconds, after posting a time of 6.77 in the prelims. Daijon Richards (6.97) took 15th.

Action in Blacksburg resumes at 2 p.m. on Saturday.