Huskies’ 200m athlete Domenic Barresi opened his outdoor season with a first place finish at the Larry Ellis Invitational in Princeton, N.J. 

Barresi, representing Cornell University, ran 20.99 in the event, his fastest recorded time. The 21-year-old began the race well, rounding the second corner and coming into the straight in a solid position. In second place and approaching the final 50m, Barresi produced an impressive kick and blew past the leader in the final metres of the race. 

The athlete’s run would’ve ranked as the fastest mark in the CTFL this season, but the wind was not legal, recorded at +5.5 according to World Athletics. 

Barresi’s opening performance comes after an indoor season where he broke his indoor personal best in the event, running a 21.39 in early February. Barresi’s progress in the event is noticeable, setting his outdoor record in June 2023.

After making the jump from the CTFL’s 100m discipline to the 200m, Barresi looks like a serious threat to the Bears’ Bertwin Ben-Smith, who took first place in all three marks last season. Since the outdoor season began, Barresi has three recorded times in the event, which are all faster than Ben-Smith’s best time of last season, 21.66.

Last season’s fourth-placed 100m athlete has the potential to compete for the top spot this season and pick up valuable points for the Huskies, who previously tallied 70 points between three athletes.