Quintet of Privateers Head to Raleigh Relays

MEET INFO | MEET SCHEDULE
WATCH (ACCNX) | LIVE RESULTS (FLASH TIMING)

NEW ORLEANS - Five University of New Orleans track and field student-athletes have made the trip to Raleigh, N.C., for this weekend's Raleigh Relays, hosted on the campus of NC State.

Erin Grime starts things off for UNO when she runs in Section 3 of the women's 1500 meters, tentatively set for around 2:45 p.m. CST Friday afternoon. Last week at the Louisiana Classic, the graduate student finished her first collegiate 1500 meters in 4:51.79. Her personal best at the distance in European competition is 4:33.87, set in June at the British Milers Club Grand Prix.

Michela Papalia will compete Friday evening in Section 1 of the women's 5,000 meters at around 5:12 p.m. CST. In her lone collegiate 5,000, Papalia finished in 18:33.46 at last season's Joe Walker Invitational in Oxford, Miss. She also ran a 5,000 during the 2024 cross-country season and finished in 18:29.8.

Anais Sulpice will get things going for New Orleans on Saturday morning in the women's 800 meters. Sulpice will run in Section 7, with the first section set to toe the line at 11 a.m. CST. The graduate student clocked a 2:12.06 at last week's Louisiana Classic in her outdoor collegiate debut and currently ranks No. 4 in the Southland Conference in the 800.

Wrapping up Saturday afternoon for UNO will be Brandt Blanchard and Jose Manuel Rodriguez in the men's 800 meters. Rodriguez finished second in last week's 800 at the LSU Opener, while Blanchard finished fourth.

Rodriguez's time of 1:49.71 is the eighth-fastest in school history and currently ranks No. 1 in the Southland Conference and No. 2 in the South Central Region. Blanchard's time of 1:50.97 is a top-30 mark in program history for the freshman and ranks No. 2 in the Southland Conference and No. 5 in the South Central Region.

Section 1 of the men's 800 meters starts at 2:45 p.m. CST Saturday. Blanchard will run in Section 8, and Rodriguez will run in Section 18. Both races will be streamed live on ACCNX for cable subscribers or those with ESPN Unlimited.

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