NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Competing for the final time ahead of the Skyline Conference Championship meet, the Manhattanville University track & field teams were in action over the weekend at Southern Connecticut State's Wilton Wright Outdoor Invitational. The Valiants suited up against competition across all three NCAA Divisions, a good test before competing against the Skyline's best.

Florence Harrison (Melbourne, Australia/Balwyn High School) was the lone Valiant in action on day one of the meet on Friday, competing in the hammer throw. She had a strong showing in the event, coming within .03 meters of her personal best with a mark of 25.81 meters to place 25^th overall.

It was a much busier Saturday, with six members of the women's team and nine on the men's side competing on day two. The throwers were heavily featured on the women's side across three total events. Gabrielle Billetz (Clarksburg, Mass./Hoosac Valley) and Harrison both competed in the shot put, with sophomore Billetz placing 13^th (10.54 meters) and Harrison taking 29^th (7.83). Billetz was also in action in the discus, placing ninth with a throw of 32.87 meters. Gigi Alvero (Yonkers, N.Y./St. Vincent Ferrer) closed out the field events with a 20.69 meter throw in the javelin toss, good for 14^th.

On the track side of things, Uzoma Nweze () and Adelina Rodriguez (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) rans in the 200-meter. Nweze placed 12^th with a split of 30.45 seconds, finishing one spot ahead of Rodriguez who clocked in at 31.27 seconds. Jen Schmidt (Williston Park, N.Y./Herricks) took to the lanes for the 400-meter, placing 12^th with her time of 1:08.59.

The men had three runners in action in both the 100 and 1500-meters. In the dash, Shai Graham (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Theatre High School) placed ninth, running an 11.41. John Castaneda (Howell, N.J./Howell) took 32^nd (11.95 seconds), with Luca Perez (Somers, N.Y./Somers) placing 41^st (12.22). In the distance run, Joey DeMilio (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) led the Valiants with a 4:31.31 time to take eighth. Daniel Baldessarre (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) (4:50.27) and Darlig Delgado (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore Senior) (4:56.13), took 19^th and 20^th, respectively.

Courtney Brown (Clarendon, Jamaica/Mount Vernon) ran a 54.41 400-meter, good for 26^th, to round out the men's running events.

Perez returned to action for the long jump, placing 29^th with his lead of 5.25 meters. Zach Garrant (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill High School) competed in the high jump, clearing 1.65 meters to take 11^th. Finally, Matt Boggi (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) competed twice, taking 20^th in the discus (35.79 meters) and 23^rd in the shot put (10.81).

Up Next
The Valiants will be hard at work over the next two weeks before returning to action at the Skyline Conference Championships at Farmingdale on April 27.

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