PHILADELPHIA --- Six days after opening competition at the Jane and David Ott Center for Track & Field, Rowan University claimed its first NJAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship since 2017 on Friday, ending TCNJ's seven-year reign atop the conference. Day 2 was originally scheduled for Sunday, February 22, but a snowstorm forced a postponement to Friday afternoon.
The Profs finished with 201 points to edge runner-up TCNJ (182.50), with Stockton (112), Montclair State (88), Ramapo (44.50), NJCU (33), Farmingdale State (16), Rutgers-Newark (15) and Rutgers-Camden (4) rounding out the field.
60 Meter Dash
TCNJ senior Lucia Garcia-Beltran took the 60 meter dash title in 7.59, after breaking the meet record in the preliminary with a 7.56 last Saturday. Montclair State's McKay Alby (7.73) and teammate Maile O'Neill (7.73) finished second and third respectively, separated by just four thousandths of a second.
60 Meter Hurdles
Rowan's Nyla Jones captured gold in the 60 meter hurdles, crossing in 8.87. TCNJ's Sarah Scepkowski (9.16) was second and Rowan's Keira Gibbons (9.27) took third.
200 Meter Dash
Garcia-Beltran added another record to her day in the 200, breaking the meet record of 24.72 set by Miriam Khan of TCNJ back in 2011 with a time of 24.65. Rowan's Nyla Jones (25.11) finished second and TCNJ's Kelsey Thomas (25.15) took third.
400 Meter Dash
TCNJ swept the top two spots in the 400, with Kelsey Thomas winning in 57.73 and Rukiyat Daranijo taking second in 58.38. Rowan's Amari Pinkett (59.12) rounded out the podium in third.
800 Meter Run
Ramapo's Dale Leonard won the 800 in 2:12.37, which moves her up to 12
th in D3 this season. TCNJ's Kelly O'Grady (2:16.08) was second and Stockton's Kayla Kass (2:16.33) third.
Mile Run
Rowan dominated the mile, placing five of the top seven finishers. Junior Gabriella Pagano led the way in 5:01.46, with teammate Allyson Wernik (5:05.45) second and Stockton's Madelyn Valasek (5:05.54) taking third by less than a tenth of a second.
3000 Meter Run
Rowan's Gabriella Pagano won her fourth gold of the meet, taking the 3000 with a time of 10:07.88. Shannon Stakelbeck (10:25.04) gave Rowan a 1-2 finish, with Montclair State's Abigail Churchill (10:28.25) taking third.
Triple Jump
NJCU’s Tonna Ogina won the triple jump with a mark of 11.18 meters, edging Stockton's Emma Petrolia (11.11m) and TCNJ's Lia Malave (11.07m) in one of the tightest finishes of the day.
High Jump
Ogina added a second gold to her day, clearing 1.63 meters. TCNJ's Sarah Scepkowski (1.58m) was second and Montclair State's Micel Martinez (1.53m) took third.
Weight Throw
Rutgers-Newark's Fejiro Akiri won the weight throw with a mark of 15.55m. TCNJ's Allison Lavin (15.47m) was second and Rowan's Alexia Bey (15.22m) took third.
4x400 Meter Relay
Rowan closed out its championship in fitting fashion, winning the 4x400 relay in 4:00.97. Ava Reilly, Amari Pinkett, Paige Franklin and Lisa O'Sullivan combined to give the Profs the victory. TCNJ was second in 4:02.29 and Stockton third in 4:03.74.