TOWSON, Md., March 29, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's track and field team participated in its first meet of the outdoor season on Friday when the Mustangs competed in the Towson University Invitational at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The Mustangs earned a pair of first-place finishes highlighted opening day for the Mustangs on Friday.
 
Mehdi Guerrah picked up the first individual first-place finish of the outdoor season for the Mustangs on Friday. Running in the 400-meter hurdles, Guerrah narrowly missed qualifying for the 2024 NJCAA Div. I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, but still took first place among 18 competitors by more than two seconds with a time of 54.98 seconds.
 
The Mustangs had two teams compete in the 4x400 meter relay to close out Friday's meet. The foursome of Chazz Alexander, Zeemarley Felix, Omari Sewell and Guerrah took first place overall in the race with a time of 3:22.69. The team of Nickoy Henry, Junior Grant, Davionn Thomas and Lloyd Haywood Jr. finished the race with a time of 3:39.32.
 
A trio of Mustangs ran in the 1,500-meter run on Friday, all finishing in the Top 6 in the field of 39 runners. Tinashe Bure ran a time of 4:02.93 to take second overall, while Banele Mkabela finished in 4:09.01 to place third. Siyabonga Mbatha then crossed the line in 4:13.32 to claim sixth place.
 
The Mustangs had a large group of five enter the 400-meter dash on Friday. Alexander was Monroe's top finisher in the race with a seventh-place time of 50.25 seconds. Grant was close behind at 50.90 seconds to take eighth. Sewell finished in 54.05 seconds, while Henry ran a time of 54.67 seconds. Haywood finished with a time of 58.05 seconds.
 
Jayson Burchell and Joel Bennett both competed in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash events on Friday. In the 100m, Burchell finished with a time of 11.61 seconds, while Bennett clocked in at 11.75 seconds. In the 200m, Burchell crossed the line in 23.49 seconds, while Bennett finished in 24.54 seconds.
 
Thomas was Monroe's lone field competitor on Friday, participating in the javelin throw. He registered a throw of 18.24 meters in the event.
 
The Mustangs are back on the road next weekend with a busy schedule. They will compete in Days 2 and 3 of the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va., on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6. Part of the team will stay in New York to participate in the Mets Conference Championship on Saturday, April 6, at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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).