Track & Field Teams Continue Strong Start to the 2026 Season

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, - The Chicago State men's and women's track & field teams traveled to Youngstown State University for the YSU Collegiate Invitational. The Cougars had numerous top finishes and even had multiple personal best performances on the day.
 
On the women's side, last week's NEC Field Athlete of the Week Makiyah Brewton continued her great start to the season with a second-place finish in the high jump leaping to a personal best 1.67m. She also finished third in the long jump with 5.52m jump. Also in the long jump, Lena Cleveland leaped 5.56m to a second-place finish in the event ahead of her teammate Brewton. Cleveland also made a strong effort in the triple jump with a 11.29m jump to finish third place. Freshman Demaya McClure finished third in the weight throw launching 14.34m.
 
In the running events, Katherine Thornton finished third in the 60 meter hurdles running a 8.99 in the event. Aliyah Ferguson also made it to the final in the hurdles running 9.21. Latonia Johnson ran a 7.81 in the 60m dash to finish fourth in the final. Johnson also finished fourth in the 200m dash running 25.58 seconds. In the rare 500m run, senior Weronika Stanczak set a personal best in the event with a 1:22.97.  
 
On the men's side, Earnest Davenport continues to have a stellar season. The sophomore jumper highlighted the field events leaping 2.11m in the high jump to win the event and is also good for second all-time at Chicago State. As of January 16, Davenport sits 23^rd overall in Division I so far this season. Not far behind, freshman Lucas Polkinghorn leaped to a collegiate best 1.99m to finish fourth in the event. Xavier Beatty had a great day in the horizontal jumps finish second in the long jump with a 6.95m and third in the triple jump leaping 14.19m.
 
On the track Trevon Prince won the 500m run with a 1:05.07. Denis Kirui won the 5k run with a 15:54.46 looking to keep the momentum after a great cross country season. Sophomore sprinter Nasir Ali led the Cougars in the 400 meters to set a personal best of 49.32 to finish second overall.  

 
Chicago State Track & Field Top Finishers
 
Women's Results
 
Weight Throw
3 Demya McClure – 14.34m
20 Taylor Norris – 10.97m (PR)
 
Shot Put
7 Bryanna Boroze – 11.55m
 
High Jump
2 Makiyah Brewton – 1.67m (PR)
13 Chana Staples – 1.53m (PR)
15 Alexis Fallejo – 1.48m
 
Long Jump
2 Lena Cleveland – 5.56m
3 Makiyah Brewton – 5.52m
 
Triple Jump
3 Lena Cleveland – 11.29m
 
60 Meter Hurdles
3 Katherine Thornton – 8.99
8 Aliyah Ferguson – 9.21
 
60 Meter Dash
4 Latonia Johnson – 7.81
 
500 Meter Run
2 Weronika Stanczak – 1:22.97
4 Alexis Fallejo – 1:29.50
 
200 Meter Dash
4 Latonia Johnson – 25.58
8 Queanna Taylor – 26.16
12 Katherine Thornton – 26.33 (PR)
 
Men's Results
 
Weight Throw
T-13 Joshua Keaton – 13.39m
T-13 Nickolas Grigsby – 13.39m
15 Kendrick Scott – 13.03m
 
Shot Put
12 Kendrick Scott – 14.42m
13 Elijah Gibbs – 13.70m
16 Joshua Keaton – 13.52m
26 Nickolas Grigsby – 12.25m
 
High Jump
1 Earnest Davenport – 2.11m (PR)
4 Lucas Polkinghorn – 1.99m (PR)
 
Long Jump
2 Xavier Beatty – 6.95m
4 Lucas Polkinghorn – 6.90m
6 Skylar McGhee – 6.77m
10 Eric Sanchez – 6.68m
 
Triple Jump
3 Xavier Beatty – 14.19m
5 Khalis Reyes – 13.83m
 
5000m Run
1 Denis Kirui – 15:54.46 (PR)
 
60 Meter Hurdles
5 Ishan Cooper – 8.39
 
1 Mile Run
13 Jacob Draaisma – 4:23.11
 
400 Meter Dash
2 Nasir Ali – 49.32
10 Clifton Martin – 50.10
14 Kai Sheridan – 50.62
23 Matthew Brooks – 51.62
 
500 Meter Run
1 Trevon Prince – 1:05.07
3 Maxwell Mitchell – 1:07.10
5 Jaden Laster – 1:10.44 (PR)
 
800 Meter Run
11 Jacob Draaisma – 2:00.29
 
200 Meter Dash
6 Eric Sanchez – 22.54
12 Nasir Ali – 22.68
13 Carlton Montgomery Jr. - 22.70
14 Kai Sheridan – 22.74
 
UP NEXT
The Cougar Track & Field teams will be back in action next Saturday January 24, as they travel to Champaign, Illinois for the Illini Open host by the University of Illini.