Saturday, January 11
Clemson, SC
East Carolina University
at
Clemson Invitational
True Freshman Kelly Ufodiama Paces Record Setting Day for ECU Track & Field
January 11, 2025 | Track & Field
CLEMSON, S.C. - The East Carolina track & field team kicked off 2025 with a bang at Saturday's Clemson Invitational as the Pirates won six events, tied-or-broke three program records, and made 14 changes to the program top 10 lists. The star of the day was unquestionably true freshman Kelly Ufodiama who took a torch to the program record book in her first collegiate outing.
Ufodiama, a sprinter by way of Round Rock, Texas, broke the program records at both 60m and 200m, taking the event win in the 200m as well. Her time of 7.26 seconds in the 60-meter dash prelim bested by one-hundredth of a second Melicia Mouzzon's program record from a season ago before her 7.27 result in the final gave her a second-place overall result. Her true masterpiece, though, was her 200m run, in which she finished with a time of 22.99 seconds. Notable for several reasons, Ufodiama became the first Pirate ever to run under 23 seconds in the event and as of writing stands atop the national rankings through three weeks of competition in the 2024-25 indoor season in the NCAA.
The sprints group wasn't the only one which saw a record on Saturday, however. J Henry Lyon tied a record which has long seemed in danger as he equalled Matthew Dennish's 4:08.09 in the men's mile. The result was also good enough for a win in the event with teammate Alex Sawyer just behind in 4:09.61.
A few other Pirates found themselves standing atop a podium, so to speak, in the meet, representing the jumps group, Skyler Harrelson took a victory with a long jump effort of 5.96m (19-6.75) which now ranks fifth in program history. From the throws group, Jocelyn Pringle took a not altogether unexpected lead in the weight throw with a toss of 19.83m (65-0.75) which catapults her into fourth in program history.
Back on the rack, Kaylee McCullough made it a sound day for the distance group with a 9:50.14 run in the 3,000m, taking a victory and sixth in program history.
On the men's side, Shakiel Dacres had an excellent outing in the shot put with a toss of 16.72m (54-10.25), good for an event win and breaking a tie with Logan Carroll to move to solo sixth in ECU history.
Up Next
The Pirates will be back at it on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18 as they trek over to Chapel Hill for the Dick Taylor Challenge.
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Ufodiama, a sprinter by way of Round Rock, Texas, broke the program records at both 60m and 200m, taking the event win in the 200m as well. Her time of 7.26 seconds in the 60-meter dash prelim bested by one-hundredth of a second Melicia Mouzzon's program record from a season ago before her 7.27 result in the final gave her a second-place overall result. Her true masterpiece, though, was her 200m run, in which she finished with a time of 22.99 seconds. Notable for several reasons, Ufodiama became the first Pirate ever to run under 23 seconds in the event and as of writing stands atop the national rankings through three weeks of competition in the 2024-25 indoor season in the NCAA.
The sprints group wasn't the only one which saw a record on Saturday, however. J Henry Lyon tied a record which has long seemed in danger as he equalled Matthew Dennish's 4:08.09 in the men's mile. The result was also good enough for a win in the event with teammate Alex Sawyer just behind in 4:09.61.
A few other Pirates found themselves standing atop a podium, so to speak, in the meet, representing the jumps group, Skyler Harrelson took a victory with a long jump effort of 5.96m (19-6.75) which now ranks fifth in program history. From the throws group, Jocelyn Pringle took a not altogether unexpected lead in the weight throw with a toss of 19.83m (65-0.75) which catapults her into fourth in program history.
Back on the rack, Kaylee McCullough made it a sound day for the distance group with a 9:50.14 run in the 3,000m, taking a victory and sixth in program history.
On the men's side, Shakiel Dacres had an excellent outing in the shot put with a toss of 16.72m (54-10.25), good for an event win and breaking a tie with Logan Carroll to move to solo sixth in ECU history.
Up Next
The Pirates will be back at it on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18 as they trek over to Chapel Hill for the Dick Taylor Challenge.
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Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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