Phantoms Hit Their Stride at Ursinus Track and Field Fest

Collegeville, PA—Despite wet and chilly conditions last Saturday, Delaware County Community College continued to run hot at the Ursinus Track and Field Festival, competing alongside NCAA DIII and DII athletes at Ursinus College. The Phantoms recorded heat wins along with personal and school records while testing event waters.

 

The DCCC women's team, all first-year student athletes, delivered across the board. Head Coach Cara Fordenbacher gave a performance-of-the-day nod to Fatumata Kaba who placed sixth among a deep field in the long jump. Her 5.25m mark launches her atop the school leaderboard in the event, surpassing the previous 5.09m record set by Taneria Bowman at the 2019 NJCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field National Meet. Kaba ranks third nationally on the NJCAA DIII long-jump list this week. 

 

Natalie Torres blazed the track in her sprints. She ran to new personal bests in both the 100m and 200m, with times of 16.37 (42nd place) and 35.20 (46th place), respectively. "It feels good to be a Phantom!" Torres enthused.

 

Shannalecia Edwards also shined in her performances, placing first in her heat in the 200m, with a time of 31.74 for 39th overall. Kaba won her 200m heat as well, posting 29.94 in her collegiate debut in this event.

 

Fordenbacher praised the women for showing up and showing out. "Fatu continues to dominate in her jumping events, proving herself each week both in competition and on the national level," she said. "Our sprints girls all ran either at or beyond their previous bests, competing in each of their heats and crossing the line first. That is all we can ask for. We are so proud of them!"

 

Daishon Billops delivered the men's performance of the day, according to Fordenbacher, for his work in three events spanning the field and track. Billops started the day with a personal record in the 100m HH, with a time of 16.62, placing 11th overall. He also set a new school record, hurdling teammate Daniel McLaughlin's previous mark earlier this season, while boosting his national ranking to sixth overall this week. 

 

Billops then competed in the long jump and ended the day leading off the 4x400m relay with Aidan Heppard, Jimmy Love, and (Tre) Fred McCray. Both were inaugural efforts in those events by the men's program. "I just need to be patient and watch all of my work come together," Billops said. 

 

Another notable performance for the day on the men's side came from first-year Diyor Hakberdiyev who set a new personal best in the 400m IH with a time of 1:10.70.

"Coach Ford and I are pleased with how the athletes competed today," Fordenbacher said. "We went into this meet with two goals in mind: having fun and competing. Our athletes did just that!"

 

"We allowed them to play, competing in events they may not otherwise have an opportunity to, and with that came new school records, personal records, and individual wins in heats," she continued. "We look forward to seeing what we can accomplish next week and the continued growth as we head into the second half of our season." 

The Phantoms head to New Jersey next weekend to compete in the Oscar Moore Invitational hosted by Rowan University.