Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Track & Field team kicked off its 2025 spring outdoor season in The Palmetto State on Friday and Saturday at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge.
In the two-day event, the Spartan men took a 13th place finish in the meet, while the women's squad placed 27th in the event hosted at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.
Headlining the men's top finishers were Jayden Bennermon, who finished fourth in both the Long Jump (6.84m/22'5.25") and Triple Jump events (14.44m/47'4.5") and ninth in the Division I High Jump competition (1.90/6'2.75"). Bennermon's Triple Jump mark also hit the NCAA Division II Provisional Standard. Adam Lenn placed fourth in the Shot Put (14.68/48'2") and Discus (48.01/157'6") contests. In addition, newest member of the Spartans squad, Adrien Klinnik set a new school record in the Javelin with a throw of 50.90m (167'0")
Meanwhile, the women's top performances included a sixth place finish by Ciara Durcan in 10,000 Meter Run with a time of 41:26.26, Zoe Merryman finishing ninth in the Division I 800 Meter Run, clocking in at 2:22.73 and the 4x400 Meter Relay team's ninth place mark with the quartet of Isabella Esposito Farino, Emma Neil, Veronica Valentik and Yuless Johnson crossing the finish line in a time of 4:20.13.
St. Thomas Aquinas returns to action on Friday and Saturday, March 28 & 29 at the Ramapo College Track & Field Invitational in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Top 10 Finishers (By Event) at Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge
Men's Events
4x100 Meter Relay: Jared Troncoso, Leelan Maxwell, Jayden Bennermon & Adrien Klinnik - 43.43 (6th Place)
High Jump Division I: Jayden Bennermon - 1.90m/6'2.75" (9th Place)
Long Jump: Jayden Bennermon - 6.84m/22'5.25" (4th Place)
Triple Jump: Jayden Bennermon - 14.44m/47'4.5" (4th Place) *NCAA PROVISIONAL MARK*
Shot Put: Adam Lenn - 14.68m/48'2" (4th Place)
Discus: Adam Lenn - 48.01m/157'6" (4th Place)
Javelin - Adrien Klinnik - 50.90m/167'0" (9th Place) *NEW SCHOOL RECORD*
Women's Events
800 Meter Run: Zoe Merryman - 2:22.73 (9th Place)
10,000 Meter Run: Ciara Durcan - 41:26.26 (6th Place)
4x400 Meter Relay: Isabella Esposito Farino, Emma Neil, Veronica Valentik & Yulessa Johnson - 4:20.13 (9th Place)