Melius, Duckett Set New School Records in Track & Field's Split Squad Weekend

Thursday, April 19

Torrance, Calif.

All Day

Tulane University

Mt. SAC Relays

Photo by: Andrew Richardson

Melius, Duckett Set New School Records in Track & Field's Split Squad Weekend

Apr 21, 2018 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

Results

NEW ORLEANS - Tulane track & field juniors Mckenzie Melius and Jessica Duckett rewrote the history book this weekend, as each set new school records in the women's 3000m steeplechase and women's 100m hurdles, respectively, to headline the team's split squad weekend. Melius and junior Emmanuel Rotich were in Torrance, California, on Thursday and Friday for the Mt. SAC Relays while the rest of the squad competed in the LSU Alumni Gold on Saturday.

QUOTES
"It was a really good start for [Emmanuel]. The race went out very slowly through the first kilometer, and Emmanuel did a great job of letting the race naturally unfold. He took the lead with 700 meters left in the race and tried to win the race, but was overtaken by the eventual winner going into the final water jump. For this being his first steeplechase race since last track season, it's an impressive opening performance, and I'm proud of the way he competed."
-Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Eric Peterson

"Jessica had a very strong day, and the vaulters did, too. This is the time of the outdoor season where we're looking for our best kids to step up and lead us into the conference championship. Most of our athletes delivered that this weekend."
-Associate Head Coach Doug Fraley

HOW IT HAPPENED
Melius finished ninth in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:34.20 at the Mt. SAC Relays on Thursday night breaking her previous personal record and school record of 10:41.08, which she set at the Penn Relays (2017).

?? NEW SCHOOL RECORD ??

Melius - 10:34.20 in the women's 3000m steeplechase

Mckenzie finishes ninth, breaking her previous PR - and school record - of 10:41.08 (Penn Relays, 2017)

A record-setting night at the Mt. SAC Relays!

RESULTS ??https://t.co/uGYynEodzQ #RollWave??
— Tulane XC & TF (@GreenWaveXCTF) April 20, 2018

Rotich's time to shine came Friday night at the Mt. SAC Relays, and he did not disappoint. The junior made his season debut in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing third with a time of 8:45.59.

Back in Louisiana, Duckett made waves at the LSU Alumni Gold on Saturday. Duckett finished fifth in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.23 (+1.7 m/s) to set a new school record in the event.

You up? It's late, but we got news!

?? NEW SCHOOL RECORD ??

Jessica Duckett - 13.23 (+1.7 m/s) in the 100m hurdles

She CRUSHES the previous school record of 13.37 - which she set last year! A record-setting day at LSU!

RESULTS ??https://t.co/oNqcNbA55U #RollWave?? pic.twitter.com/7Yw0xvNmLk
— Tulane XC & TF (@GreenWaveXCTF) April 22, 2018

Duckett's time topped the previous school record of 13.37, which she set at last year's The American Outdoor Championships. The junior also recorded a time of 58.05 in the 400m hurdles - a season best - and teamed up with sophomore Maya Harewood and freshmen Pauline Helm and Kyah Loyd in the 4x400m relay to notch a season-best time of 3:46.80.

Elsewhere on the track, junior Emma Newton finished first in the 1500m race with a time of 4:42.79 - a new season best. Sophomore Brandi Hughes and Loyd each set new personal records in the 100m hurdles with times of 13.53 (+1.7 m/s) and 13.85 (+1.7 m/s), respectively.

On the men's side, freshman Patrick Dougherty posted a new personal best in the 1500m race with a time of 3:59.00 - good for a second-place finish. Junior Pierce Hill finished right behind him with a personal-best time of 3:59.34.

The Green Wave made noise in the field events on Saturday, as well. Junior Rebekah Markel set a new outdoor personal best with a mark of 4.11m in the pole vault, claiming first place in the process.

Junior Rose Brutkiewicz finished third with a personal-best mark of 3.68m while freshman Kristina Leggas took fourth place. Freshman Danielle Wember set a new lifetime best in the long jump with her mark of 5.75m (+1.8 m/s) and finished first in the event, and sophomore Skyler Guillot set a new personal record in the javelin throw with a mark of 40.16m

UP NEXT
The Green Wave are off to the West Coast next weekend. Tulane will compete in the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, hosted by Cal, in Berkeley, California, this Friday and Saturday.

ROLL WITH THE WAVE
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.

Follow Tulane track & field on Twitter and Facebook for updates and news. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and @TulaneAthletics on Snapchat.