Kunin Sets Program Record to Highlight Final Weekend for Tulane

Friday, May 2

Jacksonville, FL

Tulane University

East Coast Relays

Kunin Sets Program Record to Highlight Final Weekend for Tulane

May 3, 2025 | Track & Field

NEW ORLEANS – Senior Illia Kunin broke the program record for Tulane track & field in the 1500m on Saturday to highlight the final regular season weekend of competition for the Green Wave. His performance bested the previous Wave record by just .26 seconds and placed him third in the event at the LSU Invitational.

On Saturday, Kunin posted a time of 3:40.25 in the 1500m to beat the record held by Amos Kipyegon (3:40.51) since 1998. He landed third in the event by less than a second behind athletes from Arkansas and LSU.

Also making waves at the LSU Invitational for Tulane were Dorcas Naibei, Janae Dean, Zander Dunbar, and Wondu Summa. Summa picked up the only event championship for the Wave at the meet as he won the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:05.88 which marks the eighth best run in program history.

In the women's 1500m Naibei posted third best performance in Tulane history to finish fifth in the event with a time of 4:20.81. Meanwhile, in the 800m Dunbar ran a 1:48.70 for the third best time in program history and a fourth-place finish in the event and Dean landed sixth crossing the finish line at 2:05.35.

Tulane also saw success on the track and in the field over the weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, at the East Coast Relays. On Friday the duo of Sofie Groeninger and Alyssa Dismuke got the action rolling for the Wave in shot put. Groeninger finished third in the event with her best throw off 13.76 meters while Dismuke hit a personal best at 12.49 meters to take ninth.

Over on the track on Friday Juan Giron set a personal record in the 5000m with a run of 14:49.37 which placed him sixth in the event.

On Saturday, Kaia Todd posted the seventh-best performance in school history in the triple jump. She reached 12.69 meters on her best jump to finish fourth in the event at the East Coast Relays.

Lee Harris picked the action back up on the track for the Green Wave Saturday as he set a personal best in the 100-meter dash. He crossed the finish line with a time of 10.32 which was good for fourth on the all-time list at Tulane.

Up next, Tulane will head to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. The championship meet will be held at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center from May 15-17.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.