Princeton, NJ – Three members of the Monroe University outdoor track and field team qualified for nationals at the Sam Howell Distance Invite on Friday, with sophomores Tinashe Bure and Banele Mkabela, and freshman Modou Sanneh establishing a strong overall day for the team.
 
Bure ran a personal best time in the 1500m with a time of 3:54.13, which qualifies him for the outdoor championships in May. Sophomore Siyabonga Mbatha also ran in the event, recording a personal best time too with a time of 4:00.73.
 
Six Mustangs were featured in the 400m, with Sanneh leading the way as his fourth place finish earned him national qualification. With a time of 47.29, Sanneh improved his ranking with a personal best time. He also ran in an unfamiliar event, the 800m, to the tune of a 1:55.51 time, which narrowly missed qualification for nationals.
 
The duo of sophomore Banele Mkabela and freshman Nkanyezi Ziqubu competed in the 5000m, with Mkabela earning a spot in Hutchinson for his performance. The South Africa native ran a personal best time of 14:59.27 to earn his ticket to nationals. Ziqubu clocked in at 15:47.82.
 
Sophomore Dwayne Fleming was the next to cross the finish line with a time of 48.29, an outdoor personal best. Freshman Cleon Joseph clocked in at 49.48, also a personal best time, before freshman Anthony Barrett ran a season-best time of 51.58. Sophomore Nickoy Henry (54.49) and freshman Elijah Carswell (54.56) rounded out the Mustang competitors.
 
Fleming and Joseph also ran the 100m shortly after the 400m, recording times of 10.97 and 11.21, respectively. Freshman Abraham Saywon (11.78) and sophomore Joel Bennett (11.79) were joined by freshmen Elijah Upsher (12.04) and Micah McHardy (12.53) in the event.
 
In the 200m, Saywon ran a personal best time of 23.57. McHardy also participated and recorded a personal best time with a time of 23.35. Carswell clocked in at 24.60 in the event.
 
To round out the event for the Mustangs, Upsher jumped a season-best distance of 5.87m, while Bennett jumped a distance of 5.51m in the long jump. Barrett also competed in the 400m hurdles, clocking in at 1:01.64.
 
The Mustangs will head to Durham, NC, for their next competition. The Duke Invitational awaits on Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12, as Monroe looks to send more athletes to nationals.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University 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.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).