Cook Doubles Up, Braggs Sweeps Sprints at Akron Last Chance

Wednesday, May 6

Akron, Ohio

Pitt

Akron Last Chance Invitational

Cook Doubles Up, Braggs Sweeps Sprints at Akron Last Chance

5/7/2026 5:45:00 PM | Track & Field

Full Results

AKRON, Ohio – Ryan Cook posted a pair of program top-10 throws and Somiyah Braggs swept the women's short sprints to headline Pitt track and field's two-day showing at the Akron Last Chance Invitational, where the Panthers piled up nine event titles and a host of personal bests.

Cook captured the men's shot put with a personal-best 55-10.25 (17.02m) — now the No. 5 mark in program history — and added a third-place finish in the discus at a PR 150-3 (45.80m), which ranks ninth all-time at Pitt. Braggs took the women's 100 in a personal-best 11.38, leaving her No. 2 in school history and just 0.11 off the program record set by Cambrya Jones in 2012. She also won the 200 in 23.68. Niya Crawford added a women's shot put title at 53-8.5 (16.37m), and Emeka Ugwu claimed the men's discus crown at 158-6 (48.31m).

Women

100: Braggs captured the win in a personal-best 11.38, the No. 2 mark in program history.
200: Braggs added a second victory in 23.68, with Alma Evuna Eki second in 24.52.
400: Eki picked up another title in 56.33, and Gabrielle Layne placed third in 58.48.
800: Elizabeth Hunkele took second in a personal-best 2:15.20, followed by Ava Pultorak in third at 2:18.99.
100 hurdles: Maliah Edwards won in a wind-aided personal-best 13.62 (+2.4), with Jana Bruses second in a wind-aided PR of 13.77.
Long jump: Elena Corella Crespo finished fifth in a personal-best 18-3.25 (5.57m).
Triple jump: Taylor Forbes placed third in a season-best 38-6.75 (11.75m).
Shot put: Crawford took the title at 53-8.5 (16.37m).
Discus: Madisyn Hawkins finished third at 145-7 (44.38m).

Men

100: Darren McQueen Jr. claimed the win in a wind-aided 10.41 (+2.1).
200: McQueen finished third in 21.52, while Cole Strother (21.90) and Antwan James (22.78) each notched personal bests.
400: Strother took second in a personal-best 47.37, with Colin Kravitz third in 47.77.
110 hurdles: Jaden Shelton captured the title in a wind-legal season-best 13.85, and James followed in second in a season-best 14.22.
Discus: Ugwu won the event at 158-6 (48.31m), with Cook third in a personal-best 150-3 (45.80m) — the No. 9 throw all-time at Pitt.
Shot put: Cook claimed the title in a personal-best 55-10.25 (17.02m), the No. 5 mark in program history.
Shot put invite: Ugwu placed third at 60-3.25 (18.37m).

UP NEXT
Pitt is scheduled to compete at the WVU Last Chance meet Saturday before turning the attention to the ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which begin May 14 in Louisville, Ky.

RESULTS

MEN

100 – 1. Darren McQueen Jr. 10.41 (wa +2.1) 11. Che Nwabuko 10.90 (wa +2.1) 14. Elijah Amenra 11.50

200 – 3. Darren McQueen Jr. 21.52 4. Che Nwabuko 21.53 5. Colin Kravitz 21.78 6. Cole Strother 21.90 (PR) 8. Malachi Williams 22.05 9. Jaden Shelton 22.09 11. Antwan James 22.78 (PR)

400 – 2. Cole Strother 47.37 (PR) 3. Colin Kravitz 47.77 4. Malachi Williams 48.55 5. Josue Richardson Salazar 48.98

110 Hurdles – 1. Jaden Shelton 13.85 (wind-legal SB) 2. Antwan James 14.22 (SB)

Shot Put – 1. Ryan Cook 55-10.25 (17.02m, PR, No. 5 all-time)

Shot Put Invite – 3. Emeka Ugwu 60-3.25 (18.37m) 5. Josiah Montgomery 55-7.5 (16.95m)

Discus – 1. Emeka Ugwu 158-6 (48.31m) 3. Ryan Cook 150-3 (45.80m, PR, No. 9 all-time)

WOMEN

100 – 1. Somiyah Braggs 11.38 (PR, No. 2 all-time)

200 – 1. Somiyah Braggs 23.68 2. Alma Evuna Eki 24.52 4. Maliah Edwards 25.22 9. Jana Bruses 25.74 10. Alexandria Scott 25.80