COLUMBIA, S.C., April 23, 2023 – After three weeks off of competition, the No. 23-ranked Monroe College Mustangs men's track and field team got back to work on Saturday with nearly a full squad competing at the University of South Carolina Open.
 
Prince Mcabelo led the charge on Saturday with a pair of strong performances. He ran in the 800-meter run, placing third overall out of 76 finishers, clocking in with a season-best time of 1:50.73, which also improves his NJCAA Div. I Outdoor Track & Field Championships qualifying time. Mcabelo also competed in the 1,500-meter run, this time taking second place in the "Fast Section" of the event with a season-best time of 3:55.79, which once again improves his standing for the NJCAA Championships.
 
Mcabelo was not alone in the 800m, as four other Mustangs also ran in the event. Tendai Nyoni set a new personal-best time at 1:59.47 in just his second time running the race. Leroy Chapman also ran a new personal-best time at 1:59.52, which was also just his second time running the event at the collegiate level. Wayne Stephenson clocked in at 2:04.72 in his outdoor 800m debut for the season. Ethanael Elliott finished the race with a time of 2:25.02.
 
Stephenson also joined Mcabelo in the Fast Section of the 1500m. He clocked in with a time of 4:41.98.
 
Zion Julien opened the day for Monroe in the men's long jump event. He set a new personal-best distance with a jump of 6.43 meters.
 
More than half the Mustangs roster ran in the 400-meter dash on Saturday. Jaheim Dotson was the first finisher for Monroe at 50.06 seconds. Chapman was next at 50.61, followed by Nyoni at 50.67. Vadley Sylvester ran a time of 50.74. Kiron O'Garro finished in 50.88, while Akeerie McFarlane was next at 51.18. Isaacs Simba Mudzimukunze made his outdoor debut with a time of 51.59. Jonathan Hackshaw finished the race in 52.50. Javon Soiro clocked in at 53.91, and Elliott crossed the line in 1:01.23.
 
David Joseph and O'Garro both ran in the open 100-meter dash. Joseph clocked in at 11.49 seconds. O'Garro ran a time of 12.18.
 
Six Mustangs competed in the open 200-meter dash on Saturday. McFarlane was Monroe's first finisher at 22.17 seconds. O'Garro was next at 22.75. Soiro finished in 23.83. Joseph ran a time of 24.14. Julien clocked in at 25.20. Rafael Dayton crossed the finish line at 25.23.
 
Dotson and Hackshaw both competed in the men's 400-meter hurdles on Saturday. Dotson made his collegiate debut in the event with a time of 55.37 seconds, just .17 off of the qualifying standard. Hackshaw finished the race in 58.99 seconds.
 
The Mustangs will compete next in the 127th Penn Relays hosted by Toyota at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The three day event will run from Thursday, April 27, through Saturday, April 29.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 11 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).