NCAA

USC Wins 9 Events & Earns 10 Second-Place Finishes At The Aztec Invitational In San Diego

USC Wins 9 Events & Earns 10 Second-Place Finishes At The Aztec Invitational In San Diego


Track & Field | March 25, 2023

USC kicked off the outdoor season by winning nine events and placing second in 10 others during the final day of the 44th Annual Aztec Invitational in San Diego, Calif. today (March 25).   

  • Junior Jasmine Jones got her season off in style by running and winning her first collegiate 400m hurdles race with a PR of 56.53.  That time moves Jones into seventh on USC’s all-time list.  Sophomore Maci Simmons had a PR of 59.48 to finish fifth.
  • The USC “B” relay team of freshman Christine M. Mallard, junior Jan’Taijah Jones, freshman Jassani Carter and graduate student Zion Corrales-Nelson won with a time of 44.51. USC originally looked like it had gone 1-2 in the 4x100m relay, but the “A” relay team was disqualified for a pass outside of the zone.
  • Graduate student Bobby Poynter won the men’s 1500m early in the day with a PR of 3:50.77, then came back later to win the men’s 800m with a time of 1:50.38.  Also, freshman Charlie Jeffreson placed fifth in the 800m with a time of 1:51.53 and junior Josh Ligas placed eighth with a time of 1:54.83.
  • Graduate student Bailey Lear won the women’s 400m dash with a time of 52.76 and junior Kimberly Harris placed third with a time of 53.74.
  • Sophomore Samirah Moody won the women’s 200m with a time of 20.93, the same time as freshman Christine M. Moody who finished second.  Both women’ ran personal bests, as did five of the 10 Trojans in the event.  USC had nine of the top 14 finishers in the event which featured 67 athletes.  Jan’Taijah Jones was fourth with a time of 23.28 (+0.8), graduate transfer Allie Jones had a big PR of 23.35 (-0.4) to take fifth and Carter had a PR of 23.35 (+0.5) to finish sixth.
  • Junior jumpers Temi Ojora and Dominique Ruotolo went 1-2 in the women’s triple jump.  Ojora had a best jump of 43-2.50/13.17m (+1.8) and Ruotolo a best of 42-3.50/12.89m (+3.0w).
  • Sophomore Morgan Fiero won the men’s 3000m steeplechase with a PR of 9:39.80.  Junior and San Diego native Josh Ligas placed third in his first collegiate steeplechase with a time of 9:52.00.
  • Sophomore Gigi Maccagninin won the women’s 800 with a time of 2:07.39.  Freshman Ashlee Gallegos finished fourth with a time of 2:11.35 and junior Alyssa Blockburger placed seventh with a time of 2:12.11.
  • Maccagnini also placed second in the women’s…

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