Buccaneer leader earns bronze in 600m in Music City Challenge; Pair of Bucs set PRs at Liberty

NASHVILLE, Tenn. & LYNCHBURG, Va. (Feb. 10, 2023) – Making its final prep work before the Southern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships in two weeks, the Buccaneers wrapped up opening day competition in both Nashville, Tenn. and Lynchburg, Va. on Friday night. 

Phelani Maduwa (Parys Free State, South Africa) highlighted the Blue and Gold as he earned a podium finish in the 600m at the Music City Challenge, held inside the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility in Nashville. Maduwa placed third in the event with a time of 1:19.54. Maduwa was third at the midway point (38.49), but kicked into another gear to finish first in his heat. 

Maduwa was joined by Miguel Parrilla (Knoxville, Tenn.) in his heat as he finished third in the second section and seventh overall with a time of 1:20.24. 

In the women’s event, Jessica Lord (Morristown, Tenn.), Hannah Burkhart (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Julia Karsten (Old Hickory, Tenn.) all finished in the top-20. Lord led the way in 13th (1:35.30), while Burkhart (1:36.74) and Karsten (1:36.91) went back-to-back in 18th and 19th, respectively. 

Genevieve Schwarz (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) set a personal best in the mile as she finished 12th in a field of 97 runners with a time of 4:43.25. Rebekah Howard (Ashland, Ky.) also set a PR in the event as she finished in 4:58.70. Schwarz placed fifth in the second heat, while Howard was third in heat number seven. 

On the men’s side, Evan Guzman (Franklin, Tenn.) and Josh Krafsur (Fort Collins, Colo.) both set PRs in the mile. Guzman finished in 4:07.63, while Krafsur crossed the line in 4:08.50. 

In Lynchburg, at the Darius Dixon Memorial, D’Shawn Fletcher (Locust Grove, Ga.) recorded a PR in the 60m en route to advancing into the semifinals of the event. Fletcher took the final spot in the prelims with a time of 7.00. In the 60m hurdles, Ethan Fulford (Knoxville, Tenn.) clocked his fastest time in the event, finishing in 8.90. 

The Bucs wrap up competition in both meets on Saturday. The Music City Challenge gets underway with the women’s 3000m at 9:30 a.m., while in Lynchburg, things get going with the women’s high jump at 10:30 a.m.

For more information on Buccaneer men’s and women’s track and field, visit ETSUBucs.com.