Track & Field Gears Up For An Electrifying 2023-24 Season

NEWARK, Del. - On Saturday, Dec. 2, the University of Delaware track & field team is poised to ignite the track, aiming to sprint with speed, leap to new heights, and propel throws to impressive distances as they kick off an exhilarating 2023-24 season. Their journey commences with the eagerly anticipated competition at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, hosted by Boston University.

Delaware will kick off the season with a roster boasting 23 returning members. These athletes were pivotal in steering the Blue Hens to an impressive sixth-place finish at the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Indoor Track & Field Championship, followed by a commendable fifth-place position at the 2023 CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships just a year ago.

Head coach Kenyetta Iyevbele returns to the track sidelines, spearheading a promising era as she welcomes an impressive recruiting class of 19 athletes. Together, they form a robust roster of 42 enthusiastic student-athletes, all determined to lead the program toward its third CAA Outdoor title while setting their sights on clinching its first CAA Indoor trophy. Supporting Iyevbele are newly appointed first-year assistant coaches: Ben Bamforth, Dezerea Bryant and Darrell Hill and Blue Hen alum Ruby Mullen, poised to make their mark on the sidelines.

SEASON OUTLOOK: Indoor

Delaware is set to pursue the indoor title as the CAA prepares to host its second annual Indoor Track & Field Championships.
In the previous season, the Blue Hens utilized the six regular-season indoor meets to fine-tune their skills, culminating in a powerful performance at the inaugural Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Indoor Championships.
Demonstrating their skill, the team left an indelible mark on UD's history by rewriting the record books a staggering 21 times, setting new school records on four occasions. Moreover, they achieved personal best times and marks an impressive 85 times across seven meets.
During the CAA Indoor Championships, the Blue Hens finished tied for sixth place, accumulating 51 points and clinching an impressive four medals.
Among these accolades were one gold medal, two silver medals and one bronze medal.
Bridget Joyce, the lone returning pole vaulter, earned one of the silver medals and earned a well-deserved spot on the All-CAA team after setting a personal-best mark of 3.70m

SEASON OUTLOOK: Outdoor

Delaware orchestrated yet another extraordinary outdoor campaign, rewriting the narrative at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium with two record-breaking performances. The squad left an indelible mark on history by altering the record books 16 times, achieving the remarkable feat of setting new program records five times. Additionally, they surpassed personal best times and marks an impressive 69 times before entering the postseason.
At the CAA Outdoor Championships, the Blue Hens concluded the two-day championship in fifth place, securing an impressive total of 78.50 points.
The Blue & Gold returned to Newark adorned with a remarkable collection of five medals, including two gold, one silver, and two bronze. Standout performances by Halima Scott and Joyce earned them well-deserved spots on the All-CAA team list.
Moreover, the meet witnessed the Blue Hens rewriting history on seven occasions, setting two new school records, and leaving a mark by establishing a new Walter J. Zable Stadium record.
Scott geared up to defend her 2022 400m title and achieved a remarkable feat by securing silver and astonishingly setting a new school record of 53.01.
Joyce built upon her impressive performance from the indoor championships by clearing a personal-best 3.80m bar, claiming bronze for the Blue Hens. Her exceptional mark now stands tied for fourth in the school's record books.

SEASON OUTLOOK: NCAA
Coach Iyevbele will be looking to replicate another program best as a year ago five Blue Hens earned berths to NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships First Rounds in Jacksonville, Fla. with Scott (400m) becoming an official entry into the postseason event. The Camden, N.J. native clocked a time of 53.84 to finish in fifth place in the opening heat, 30th place overall, closing out her outdoor campaign.

SCHEDULE
Indoor

For the third consecutive season, Delaware is set to open its lone indoor event of the 2023 calendar year on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, hosted by Boston University.
The Blue Hens will usher in the new year at the TCNJ Lion Invitational in New York City on Friday, Jan. 12, and then make their way to Brighton, Mass., for the River Hawk Invite, hosted by UMass Lowell, on Friday, Jan. 26 to round out January's events.
Following that, the Blue & Gold will journey to State College, Pa., to tackle the Sykes & Sabock Challenge, hosted by Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Delaware will then head back to New York for the Fastrack National Invite on Friday, Feb. 9, held at the Ocean Breeze Complex, before concluding the indoor season at the CAA Indoor Championships from February 22-23 at the Armory.

Outdoor

The outdoor season kicks off in Richmond, Va. on Friday, Mar. 22, with the Blue Hens participating in the Fred Hardy Invitational, hosted by Richmond University.
Delaware aims to make an impact at the Raleigh Relays, hosted by NC State in Raleigh, N.C., from March 28-30, and then takes on the reputable Florida Relays, hosted by the University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida, from Mar. 29-30.
The Blue Hens will return home to host the two-day Delaware Invitational on Apr. 5-6 to start the month of April.
The April schedule includes the Larry Ellis Invitational, hosted by Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. Apr. 12-13, followed by the Virginia Challenge, hosted by UVA (Apr. 19-20) in Charlottesville, Va., and a trip to Baltimore, Md., for the Hopkins/Loyola Invitational, hosted by Johns Hopkins on Apr. 20.
The regular season concludes with the prestigious Penn Relays from April 24-27.
The 2024 CAA Outdoor Championships are set for May 10-11 in Elon, N.C., hosted by Elon University.
The 2024 NCAA Regional Championships will be hosted by the University of Kentucky from May 22-25 this season.
The pinnacle of the season arrives with the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, taking place from June 5-8 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., with the University of Oregon taking on hosting duties.

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University of Delaware Athletics

Track & Field Gears Up For An Electrifying 2023-24 Season

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