Back in Blacksburg, Va., for the Hokie Invitational this weekend, the Blue Devils demonstrated their prowess in nearly every event group: Over the two-day meet, they racked up 16 podium finishes, nine top-five all-time program marks and two school records. The best part? After last weekend’s split-up, with the team in two different states, the entire group got to compete together in the same facility for the first time this year.
“It was an opportunity for us to start building the team culture for 2025,” Wilbourn said. “And I thought it was a great team effort on both sides.”
The team got off to a strong start Friday, thanks to none other than junior Lauren Tolbert.
For the second week in a row, Tolbert broke a school record. At the Dick Taylor Challenge last weekend, she did it in a 300m. This time, she did it in double the distance, blazing through all of her 600m competition in 1:28.15 for her personal best. Not far behind Tolbert was graduate student Ally Gomm, who snagged a No. 3 all-time mark with her own third-place finish. It’s early in the season, but the Duke women’s sprints squad is, like always, showing promise.
In the 4x400m relay Saturday, the quartet of Tolbert, Gomm, senior Megan McGinnis and freshman Braelyn Baker won in 3:36.82 and made it look easy: Runner-up North Carolina was almost three seconds behind.
“We think we have the potential to have the best women's 4x400 that we've ever had,” Wilbourn said. For this group, that’s saying a lot.
The individual 400m race wasn’t so different: All four Duke relayers placed within the top five. In the seasoned Blue Devil field, it was the freshman, Baker, who took the top spot, with a 53.63-second time.
Another freshman took the lead for Duke in the men’s 300m. With a personal best of 33.88 seconds, Joseph Taylor clinched the second program record of the weekend, resetting a mark that has stood since 2021.
“As a freshman, it’s really exciting," Wilbourn said. “I’m gonna have him for the next four years!”
Unfortunately for Wilbourn, he’s not going to have TJ Clayton for as long. With a meet victory in the 200m, the graduate transfer from Rhodes College secured a No. 2 all-time mark in the 200m, finishing in a swift 21.40 seconds. In the men’s 300m race, he followed it up with a tie for No. 5 all-time in the Duke charts.
“He's just going to continue to get better and better,” Wilbourn said. “We expect big things from him at ACCs and potentially NCAAs.”
Off the track, the Blue Devils delivered a series of strong performances in the throwing events. With multiple top-five all-time marks, the throws group showcased why it rivals the women’s sprints team for the most dependable part of the Duke contingent.
In the men’s shot put, graduate student Eric Bottern delivered a string of strong attempts before making a 0.12 meter jump to 18.29m on his last attempt. A personal best good for fourth place, it also replaced the No. 2 all-time mark in Duke history.
In the women’s weight throw, fellow transfer Iyanna Lewis got in on the action, tossing her way to 19.68m and third in the program record books. Freshman Phillips Moore kept it up for the men, throwing his weight to a No. 5 all-time mark of 19.10m for a second-place berth on the podium.
But for all the talent the Blue Devils do have in their sprinters and throwers, they lack depth in areas like their distance team. Track and Field is a team sport, and sprinters and throwers alone do not win championships.
Duke’s distance runners had a few notable races this weekend — graduate students Stephanie Moss with a No. 3 all-time mark in the 1000m and Will Atkins with a win in the men’s 800m — but a competitive team will require a lot more.
“We had some great performances,” Wilbourn said. “But we're nowhere near where we need to be and where we want to be.”
It’s only the start of the season. The Blue Devils will get another chance: In two weeks’ time, they’ll be in Blacksburg — again — for the Doc Hale Invitational.
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