The NJIT track and field closed out 2022 by opening their indoor campaign at the Wagner College Seahawk Shootout, held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. A number of school records fell on the Highlanders' first time out and set the tone for the season as the program prepares for the rest of the schedule in 2023.
HIGHLANDER RECORDS
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Maria Owens was the runner-up in the long jump (5.47m / 17-11.50) and reset the previous school mark of 5.38m / 17-8.00 from the 2022 America East Indoor Championships by teammate McKinleigh Mattie. Owens (11.16m / 36-7.50) and Mattie (10.75m / 35-3.25) also beat the old triple jump record of 10.49m / 34-5.00 set in 2014 by Cristina DeCristofaro.
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A new Sprint Medley Relay school record was set by the quartet of Maddie Stevens, Nia Holloway, Lillian Williams, and Nadia Zhecheva. The group ran a 4:20.06 in the event to pass the record of 4:20.86 run by Holloway, Zhecheva, Grace Burke and Sydne Nance in 2021.
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Freshman Maddie Stevens took fourth in the 300 meters with a time 39.40, beating the old NJIT record of 42.72 set in 2019 by Caitlin Hambor.
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Jaden Johnson's fifth place triple jump leap of 14.31m / 46-11.50 beat Kwadwo Banahene's 2016 mark of 13.84m / 45-5.00 for the school record in the event.
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Nia Holloway and Lillian Williams both bested the NJIT school record in the 60 meters, with Holloway setting a new mark of 7.88 and Williams recorded the second-fastest Highlander time in the event with a finish of 7.94. Both times eclipsed former Highlander Ayanna Garrett's 7.96 time from 2017.
OTHER TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES
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3000 meters: Katherine Castano (10:48.20, 4th)
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1000 meters: Jenna Keith (3:19.05, 5th)
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4x400 Relay: Matt Bacchi/Lossenie Fofana/Thomas Van Saders/Robbie Tormo (3:18.74, 4th; just over one second behind the school record of 3:17.55)
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Sprint Medley Relay: Elisha Bugasch/JC Baratta/Jeusten Jourdain/David Munera (3:37.38, 4th)
NEXT UP
NJIT will return to Ocean Breeze when the calendar switches to 2023 for the Wagner College Invitational on Friday, Jan. 6.