Fields Siblings Lead Broncos to Nine All-America Awards at 2024 Nationals
By: Alex Kline, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
EMPORIA, Kansas – The Cal Poly Pomona men's and women's track and field teams earned NINE All-America awards on the final day of the 2024 season, including two podium finishes by Matteo Madrassi in pole vault (3rd) and Ryan Fields in the 400 meter hurdles (2nd).
Ayana Fields added to her legacy on Saturday, capturing three more All-America honors in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4x400 relay finals, finishing eighth place in each of the three events. She is now a 16-time All-American in her collegiate career, exactly double of the next closest student-athlete in Cal Poly Pomona Athletics history (Tabreshia Lawrence and Janet Nicholls each at eight). Fields closes out her CPP career as arguably the greatest student-athlete to ever wear the Green & Gold.
Ryan Fields captured two-more All-American honors of his own, marking the third consecutive season he has been an All-American in both the 110 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles. In the 400, Fields came within four-tenths of a second from winning the national title, clocking in at 50.37 seconds. His second-place finish was the highest of any CPP athlete at the National Championships this year.
Matteo Madrassi earned bronze in pole vault, reaching a season-best height of 5.30 meters. It was Madrassi's third career All-American award, having finished in the top eight in each of the past two seasons. The senior out of Udine, Italy showed steady improvement on the national stage, reaching 5.20m at the 2022 national championships, 5.25m in 2023, and finally 5.30m in 2024.
The 4x400 women's relay team of Jaelyn Thomas, Yuna Queniat, Ari Milton, and Ayana Fields finished eighth in the final event of the 2024 season. Each of the four relay members added to their trophy collection, as it was Thomas' third career All-American award, Queniat's third, Milton's second, and Fields' 16th and final one of her career.
Justin Cardoza reached 14.77 meters in the men's triple jump, good for a 14th place finish in the event. That was his best personal mark since jumping 15.26 meters at the Stanford Invitational back in March.
Pittsburg State swept the NCAA Division II team championships, winning both the men's and women's national titles.
All-American Criteria
Student-athletes earned First-Team USTFCCCA All-American honors by virtue of finishing among the top-eight in their respective events – including as a member of a relay team – at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Second-team selections were given to those athletes who finished in spots Nos. 9-12 in individual events. Ninth and tenth-place relay teams also earned the distinction.
2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Hosted by Emporia State University – Emporia, Kansas
Schedule of Events (Times PDT)
Thursday, May 23
✔ | 16th Place | Men's Long Jump (Finals) – Darius Hill
✔ | 12th Place | Men's 4x100 (Prelims) – Alessio Sommacal, Deandre Smith, Joshua Johnson, Colin Quinn
✔ | 7th Place | Women's 400m (Prelims) – Ayana Fields
✔ | 15th Place | Men's 100m (Prelims) – Lorenzo Boyd
✔ | 4th Place | Men's 400m Hurdles (Prelims) – Ryan Fields
✔ | 16th Place | Men's 400m Hurdles (Prelims) – Alessio Sommacal
Friday, May 24
✔ | 8th Place | Women's 200m (Prelims) – Ayana Fields
✔ | 4th Place | Men's 110m Hurdles (Prelims) – Ryan Fields
✔ | 10th Place | Men's 110m Hurdles (Prelims) – Alessio Sommacal
✔ | 9th Place | Women's 4x400 (Prelims) – Jaelyn Thomas, Ari Milton, Yuna Queniat, Ayana Fields
Saturday, May 25
✔ | 3rd Place | Men's Pole Vault (Final) – Matteo Madrassi
✔ | 14th Place | Men's Triple Jump (Final) – Justin Cardoza
✔ | 6th Place | Men's 110m Hurdles (Final) – Ryan Fields
✔ | 8th Place | Women's 400m (Final) – Ayana Fields
✔ | 2nd Place | Men's 400m Hurdles (Final) – Ryan Fields
✔ | 8th Place | Women's 200m (Final) – Ayana Fields
✔ | 8th Place | Women's 4x400 (Final) – Jaelyn Thomas, Ari Milton, Yuna Queniat, Ayana Fields
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