Field Performers, Vaughn and Likely Shine on Day One of South Florida Invite

TAMPA, Fla. -- Highlighted by sprinter Matthew Likely, throwers Michael Alvernaz, Connor Brookman and Austin Snyder, and distance specialist Blake Vaughn, the Troy Trojans men's track and field program shined Friday afternoon at the South Florida Invite hosted by the University of South Florida.

Day one of the two day meet featured just the male athletes, as the female athletes will take to the track tomorrow for the second and final day of competition.

Alvernaz and Brookman got the day started with a bang, winning the hammer throw and shotput events respectively.

Alvernaz's score of 66.13 was a new school-record, and propelled him to his third hammer throw title of the season, and his second consecutive career-best mark. The Rhode Island native's pervious career best was his 65.75m score that propelled him to a second-place finish at the Tiger Classic two weeks ago.

Later in the afternoon it was Snyder who took center stage, turning in a score of 17.08m to win the shotput. The victory is Snyder's first of the season.

In the very next event, it was Brookman's turn to take home an individual title for the Trojans, as the senior won the javelin throw with a score of 62.62m.

Once the action flipped to the track, Blake Vaughn recorded the fourth individual victory by a Trojan when he ran the 3000m steeplechase in just under 10 minutes (9:59.76).

Senior Matthew Likely closed the strong day out for the Trojans, winning the first heat of the 200m en route to the overall 200m title. Likely's time of 21.08 was a season-best time and the sprinter's fastest time since the 2019 NCAA East Prelims.

The Troy women's program takes center stage tomorrow beginning with the field events at 10 a.m. for the second and final day of the South Florida Invite.

DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD MARC DAVIS:

"We had some great performances today. It started with Mike Alvernaz breaking the school record in the hammer throw. Our throwers won three field events which was huge for us. They are competing at a high level right now and continue to be locked in. Matt Likely had another good week in the sprints. I thought our 4x100 had a little bit of misfortune, but we are working on some things to get back on the winning track. Next week will be big for us at Alabama. We need to continue to step up and show heart."

Field Performers, Vaughn and Likely Shine on Day One of South Florida Invite

Players Mentioned

Michael Alvernaz

Connor Brookman

Matthew Likely

Austin Snyder

Patrick Vaughn

Troy University Athletics