MIDDLETOWN, CT- The Manhattanville University Track and Field teams began their indoor season at the Wesleyan University Winter Invitational today. The Valiants had fourteen total competitors, five female athletes and nine male athletes. 

John Castaneda (Howell, N.J./Howell), Courtney Brown (Clarendon, Jamaica/Mount Vernon) and Luca Perez (Somers, N.Y./Somers) competed in the 60-meter. Castaneda led the way with 7.70 in his collegiate debut while Brown finished just behind with 7.71 in 33rd and 34th place. Perez finished shortly after with a time of 7.89. 

Making his collegiate debut, Aka Udeagha (Rye, N.Y./Rye) finished with 24.68 for 19th place in the 200-meters. Castaneda was another participant finishing 28th with 25.55 on the timer. Matthew Friday (Bronx, N.Y./AECI Charter) was the third and final Valiant in this event, finishing 34th with a time of 28.69.  

Shai Graham (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Theatre High School) stood tall as the only Valiant in the 400-meter race placing 7th with a time of 56.11.  

Brown makes a return for his second event in the 600-meter alongside cohort Zach Garrant (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill High School). Garrant making his indoor season debut, finished fifth with a time of 1:31.08, good for second all-time in the program record book. Brown finished shortly behind in eighth with a time of 1:32.26, fourth in Valiant history. 

Joey DeMilio (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) participated in the 1000-meter finishing first overall with a time of 2:56.07.  

The final track event the men's track and field team participated in was the 4x100. Perez, Friday, Garrant and DeMilio teamed up and finished in sixth overall with a time of 3:52.92. 

Matt Boggi (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) was the only Valiant to participate in a field event on the men's side as he threw 10.36m for the men's shot put event. 

On the women's side, Jen Schmidt (Williston Park, N.Y./Herricks) started off for Manhattanville in the 60-meter dash finishing 17th with a time of 8.79. 

Alicia Bibi (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) traded in her cleats for some spikes as she placed 27th with a time of 31.57 in the 200-meter.  

Schmidt returned to the track participating in the 600-meter placing seventh with a time of 2:07.76. 

The final three Valiants on the women's side put up impressive numbers in the field events. Gabby Billetz placed third in shot put with a distance of 10.29m. Florence Harrison (Melbourne, Australia/Balwyn High School) finished 12th with 7.80m and Gigi Alvero (Yonkers, N.Y./St. Vincent Ferrer) placed 17th with 6.53m. 

Harrison also participated in the women's weight throw with 7.36m, placing ninth.  

Up Next
The Valiants look ahead to jumping back into action after the new year on January 11 at the Crowell Open in West Point, N.Y.  

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