Tampa Track Opens Season at Spartans Open
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa launched its 2026 track & field season at home with an energetic Spartans Open highlighted by a school record in the men's 4x100-meter relay and multiple event wins on the women's side.
The men's quartet of Collin Kavulic, Daniel Raffin, Jayden Leonard, and Calvin Jordan stopped the clock at 41.49 to win the relay, a new program best, ahead of Nova Southeastern (42.09).
The women's team book‑ended the sprint program with relay victories—4x100m (47.83) behind Sarah Martinez, Allison Murphy, Molly Morris, Chloe Green, and 4x400m (3:55) with Kate Carter, Murphy, Taylor Robinson, Marielle Clayton, and dominated the hurdles, where Molly Morris took the 100m hurdles in 14.84 and the Spartans swept the top five in the 400m hurdles led by Murphy (1:02).
Distance groups impressed on both sides: Elijiah Rivera led the men with a runner‑up 8:32 in the 3000m, while the women stacked the 1500m and 3000m with podiums, Hannah Diete 2nd (4:36) in the 1500m, and Taylor Guthrie 2nd (9:53) and Lindsey Volkman 3rd (10:02) in the 3000m.
Top Tampa Performers (Men)
- 100 Meters: In the men's 100 meters, Collin Kavulic led UT with a 4th‑place finish in 10.95.
- 200 Meters: In the men's 200 meters, Jacob Khashou was Tampa's top finisher, placing 9th in 22.30.
- 400 Meters: In the men's 400 meters, Eliezer Nicolas finished as UT's top performer, taking 4th in 49.24.
- 400m Hurdles: In the men's 400‑meter hurdles, Rory Olsen was the top Spartan, placing 2nd in 54.89.
- 1,500 Meters: In the men's 1500 meters, Will Cerrutti led Tampa with a 3rd‑place finish in 3:57.34.
- 3,000 Meters: In the men's 3000 meters, Elijiah Rivera paced UT with a 2nd‑place time of 8:32.
- 5,000 Meters: In the men's 5000 meters, Jackson Levine finished 4th in 15:19 to lead Tampa.
- 4x100m Relay: In the men's 4x100‑meter relay, Tampa's A team (Kavulic–Raffin–Leonard–Jordan) won in 41.49, setting a new school record.
- 4x400m Relay: In the men's 4x400‑meter relay, Tampa's A squad (Nicolas–Kehler–Gray–Ruggiero) posted the team's top finish, placing 4th in 3:23.
Top Tampa Performers (Women)
- 100 Meters: In the women's 100 meters, Sarah Martinez led Tampa with a 3rd‑place finish in 12.55.
- 200 Meters: In the women's 200 meters, Sarah Martinez was the top Spartan, placing 5th in 25.95.
- 400 Meters: In the women's 400 meters, Anna Thomas paced Tampa with a 7th‑place time of 1:01.
- 100m Hurdles: In the women's 100‑meter hurdles, Molly Morris won the event in 14.84, leading all competitors.
- 400m Hurdles: In the women's 400‑meter hurdles, Allison Murphy secured 1st place in 1:02 to lead a Tampa sweep of the top five.
- 1,500 Meters: In the women's 1500 meters, Hannah Diete finished as Tampa's top performer, placing 2nd in 4:36.
- 3,000 Meters: In the women's 3000 meters, Taylor Guthrie led UT with a 2nd‑place finish in 9:53.
- 5,000 Meters: In the women's 5000 meters, Abby Tudeen was Tampa's top finisher, placing 4th in 17:57.
- 4x100m Relay: In the women's 4x100‑meter relay, Tampa's A team (Martinez–Murphy–Morris–Green) won the race in 47.83.
- 4x400m Relay: In the women's 4x400‑meter relay, Tampa's A team (Carter–Murphy–Robinson–Clayton) won with a time of 3:55.
Up Next
Tampa travels to Embry-Riddle for the ERAU Invite in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday, March 7.