USC’s Trey Knight, Joy McArthur, Karlee Freeman Post Wins On Trojan Invitational First Day
LOS ANGELES—USC's Trey Knight and Joy McArthur won the hammer throws and Karlee Freeman captured the discus throw as the USC men's and women's track and field teams kicked off their 2021 outdoor season on the first day of the annual Trojan Invitational on Friday (March 19) at Long Beach State.
The remainder of the Trojan Invitational meet will be held on Saturday (March 20) at USC's Loker Stadium, with field events starting at 11 a.m. and running events at 12:15 p.m. The meet will be streamed live on USCTrojans.com beginning at 11:45 a.m. for the Senior Recognition Ceremony. Due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the meet is closed to the public.
Teams from California, Long Beach State, Utah and Washington State are competing in the Trojan Invitational along with USC's highly-decorated track and field athletes.
Knight, a first-year freshman who owns the national high school record in the hammer (using an implement 4 pounds lighter than what is used in college), opened his collegiate outdoor career with a victory by throwing a personal-best 219-0 (66.75m) on his second attempt. USC redshirt freshman Christian Johnson, a transfer from Texas, was second in a personal-best 196-9 (59.98m), which he hit on his final attempt.
McArthur, a senior, won the women's hammer with a personal-best 205-9 (62.71m) throw. She led the field from her opening throw of 202-7 (61.75m), then recorded her PR on her final attempt. She moved up two spots on USC's all-time hammer throw performers list, to eighth place. Washington State's Carolina Ulloa-Daza placed second with a 191-3 (58.30m) mark.
Freeman, a junior, threw a personal-best 186-7 (56.88m) in the hammer to finish in third place, then she won the women's discus throw with a 173-8 (52.93m) mark that came on her final attempt. She led from the start after opening with a 172-7 (52.62m) throw. Long Beach State's Brianna Uipi was second at 139-8 (42.58m).
Charlie Vernoy of Long Beach State won the men's discus throw at 185-4 (56.49m). USC did not have an entrant in the event.
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