WAC-best marks set in 4 events at Battle at the Beach

Friday, April 4

Long Beach, Calif.

Grand Canyon

Battle at the Beach

4/4/2025 11:06:00 PM | Track and Field

Lopes notch multiple WAC-leading marks, highlight national rankings in loaded Long Beach field

By: Josh Hauser

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Grand Canyon track and field took center stage on Friday at the Battle at the Beach, facing elite national competition and walking away with WAC-leading marks, regional rankings and momentum heading deeper into the outdoor season.

"It was a good day for the Lopes at the Beach," GCU head coach Tom Flood said. "Competing against the best track and field teams in the country, the Lopes performed very well."

The meet featured a small but mighty field that included GCU, LSU, Long Beach State, Oregon and USC.

The day opened with a dominant showing in the men's 110-meter hurdles. Sophomore Prosper Ekporere clocked a blistering 13.61 seconds — a mark that not only leads the WAC but also ranks No. 8 in the West Region and No. 9 in the NCAA. The time would have been a school record had it not been for a slightly over-the-limit wind reading.

"Our 110-meter hurdle guys got us started early with outstanding performances," Flood said. "Prosper's time would have been a school record but the wind was just over the allowable."

Sophomore Francisco Marques followed with a 13.69 for third, continuing the Lopes' surge in the hurdles. Senior Cameron Wilmington also starred in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking 50.91 — No. 9 in the West and No. 13 nationally.

In the sprints, junior Miguel Rosario III headlined the effort with a fifth-place finish in the 100 meters (10.33) and a runner-up performance in the 200 meters (20.73), which now stands as the fastest time in the WAC this season and ranks No. 9 in the West Region.

"Our sprint crew had an outstanding day," Flood said. "Miguel's sprint double was huge for us — that 200 time leads the WAC and puts him on the regional map."

The Lopes found success in the field events as well. Senior Harrison Cornell marked a 52.41 meters in the discus — the best mark in the WAC this season — and added a sixth-place finish in the hammer throw (53.23m).

On the women's side, freshman Nina Thevenin led the charge with an impressive sprint double of her own, running 11.66 in the 100 meters and 23.72 in the 200 meters.

"Our Lady Lopes were led by Nina Thevenin," Flood said. "She had a very nice sprint double with great performances that show her potential at this level."

The Lopes posted the two fastest times in the WAC this season in the women's 400 meters. Senior Aaliyah Rifort-Delem (53.60) and junior Taliyah Booker (53.72) placed third and fourth, respectively, in a deep field.

"I was also impressed with both of our Lady Lopes in the 400," Flood said. "Those are the top two marks in the WAC right now."

Middle-distance veterans Alyssa Blockburger (2:09.08) and Michaela Lewis (2:11.16) followed with the WAC's No. 2 and No. 3 times in the 800 meters. Senior Amanda Thrue had a strong all-around showing with two top-three WAC marks — 13.79 in the 100-meter hurdles and 5.86m in the long jump.

The women capped the meet with a win in the 4x400-meter relay (3:47.29), while the men finished second (3:16.81) to close out a strong day for GCU.

"The majority of the Beach group will have a much deserved weekend off this upcoming week," Flood said. "But we'll send a good group to Glendale Community College on Saturday and our multi-event athletes will head to Azusa for the Bryan Clay Invitational."