WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 8, 2024 – Banele Mkabela's qualifying performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was the highlight of the weekend for the Monroe College Mustangs men's track and field team as the Mustangs spent time at both the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va., and the Mets Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the famous Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in New York.
 
COLONIAL RELAYS
Mkabela ran his first-ever collegiate 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing with a time of 9:47.81. This time qualified him for the 2024 NJCAA Div. I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the event. This was an improvement of more than 40 seconds on his previous personal-best time in the event.
 
Dwayne Fleming participated in a pair of sprint events in Virginia. In the 100-meter dash he ran a time of 11.01 seconds. The 200-meter dash saw Fleming finish in 22.31 seconds.
 
Tinashe Bure and Siyabonga Mbatha both ran in the 800-meter run. Bure opened the outdoor season with a time of 1:55.14, while Mbatha finished in 1:59.86.
 
Mbatha and Bure both ran in the 1,500-meter run as well. Mbatha ran a season-best time of 4:07.31. Bure ran a time of 4:09.11.
 
Kgaogelo Moloisi made his season debut in the 5,000-meter run after being forced to miss the indoor season. He ran a time of 15.39.87.
 
Joel Bennett and Jayson Burchell were Monroe's lone field event participants at the Colonial Relays. In the long jump, Bennett made a personal-best jump of 6.24 meters. Burchell jumped a distance of 6.35 meters. Burchell then competed in the triple jump, registering a distance of 12.53 meters.
 
METS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Monroe's men's 4x400-meter relay team was the highlight at Icahn Stadium for the Mustangs on Saturday. The team of Mehdi Guerrah, Junior Grant, Omari Sewell and Chazz Alexander ran a time of 3:18.38, taking first place overall in the team's final event of the day.
 
Four Mustangs competed in Saturday's 400-meter dash. Guerrah ran a time of 50.03 seconds. Grant was next at 50.89 seconds. Nickoy Henry crossed the line in 51.28 seconds. Lloyd Haywood Jr. finished the race in 55.64 seconds.
 
Sewell ran in the 800-meter run, finishing the race in 2:04.57 seconds.
 
Chazz Alexander appeared in the 200-meter dash on Saturday. He ran a time of 22.73 seconds.
 
Davionn Thomas had an opportunity in Saturday's Javelin throw. He threw a personal-best distance of 23.53 meters.
 
The Mustangs are back at it this weekend for in Larry Ellis Invitational hosted by Princeton University at Weaver Stadium in Princeton, N.J. The two-day meet is set to begin on Friday, April 12.
 
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).