Staten Island, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Track and Field team returned to action on Saturday at the 2025 Big Apple Invitational, which was held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.
The Spartans faced off against athletes from several Division I, II and III institutions and club teams.
Headlining the outstanding performances for the maroon and gold were Jayden Bennermon and Emmanuel Mena Jimenez each winning a pair of events, with Bennermon taking first in both the High Jump (1.95m/6'4.75") and the Triple Jump (14.82m/48'7.5") and Mena Jimenez conquering the Shot Put (15.47m/50'9.25") and the Weight Throw (19.64m/64'5.25"). Jayden and Manny once again hit NCAA Division II Provisional marks in the Triple Jump and Weight Throw events respectively.
STAC now prepares for the East Coast Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday, February 16 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. Events are scheduled to get underway beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Staten Island.
Top 20 Finishers (By Event) at the 2025 Big Apple Invitational
Men's Events
200 Meter Dash: Leelan Maxwell - 22.97 (12th Place)
High Jump: Jayden Bennermon - 1.95m/6'4.75" (1st Place)
Long Jump: Leelan Maxwell - 6.56m/21'6.25" (3rd Place), Pedro Mulero Martinez - 5.98m/19'7.5" (12th Place)
Triple Jump: Jayden Bennermon - 14.82m/48'7.5" (1st Place) *NCAA D2 PROVISIONAL MARK*
Shot Put: Emmanuel Mena Jimenez - 15.47m/50'9.25" (1st Place), Gavin Kopf - 13.72m/45'0.25" (4th Place), Tyler Robinson - 11.56m/37'11.25" (18th Place)
Weight Throw: Emmanuel Mena Jimenez - 19.64m/64'5.25" (1st Place) *NCAA D2 PROVISIONAL MARK*, Tyler Robinson - 14.11m/46'3.5" (9th Place), Christopher Cajamarca - 12.64m/41'5.75" (15th Place), Noely Vargas - 12.44m/40'9.75" (18th Place)
Women's Events
400 Meter Dash: Yulessa Johnson - 1:02.59 (14th Place), Aalianne Gilbert - 1:04.19 (17th Place), Veronica Valentik - 1:05.13 (20th Place)
Shot Put: Alexis Krause - 9.97m/32'8.5" (15th Place)
Weight Throw: Alexis Krause - 12.18m/39'11.5" (11th Place)