EWING, N.J. – A thrilling duel in the steeplechase between Stuart Gruters and Kevin Christensen was the highlight of the first day of the NJAC Outdoor Championship for the TCNJ men's track and field team.

Gruters claimed gold by just under a quarter-second against his teammate, the tandem joining Michael Bond as medalists on the opening salvo of the championship meet, which was moved to a Sunday-Monday format following the rainfall from the previous days.

TCNJ ended Day 1 in second place with 32 points, 59 behind first-place and No. 1 Rowan, but with plenty of finalists on tap for Monday.

After close calls each of the last two outdoor championship meets – a third-place finish in 2021 and runner-up showing in 2019 – Gruters finally got his gold. It came in thrilling fashion, a nearly step-for-step thriller with Christensen. In the end, Gruters crossed just in front of his fellow Lion at 9:27.73 to become the first TCNJ steeplechase champion since Scott Savage in 2014. Christensen settled for his second straight silver in the event with a 9:27.96.

Matthew Richardson was also a place-winner in the steeplechase, finishing eighth in 10:21.05.

Bond shattered his previous personal best by more than 30 seconds in the 10,000 meters, crossing the line in 32:10.09 to finish runner-up and move into eighth on TCNJ's all-time performance list. It was the first NJAC medal of Bond's career after the junior narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish at last year's outdoor meet. Chase Miller also tallied a nearly 30-second PR to place seventh (32:43.03).

Brett Schuett took second with a 49.99 in the 400-meter dash and will be joined by teammates Jason Engler (50.55) and Tyrese Gilbert (personal-best 51.18) in the finals.

Engler placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.68, qualifying for Monday's finals heat.

Tom Domozych clocked a 10.95 to finish sixth in the 100-meter dash prelims and book a spot in tomorrow's championship. Justin Gomez just missed on qualifying, finishing ninth in 11.07.

Tyler Scott's 22.05 in the 200-meter dash was good for seventh in the prelims, as well as a new career best that puts him fifth in TCNJ history.

Warlys Lizardo placed seventh with a career-best mark of 42.48 meters in the hammer throw.

Andrew Ellis earned a place after taking eighth in the javelin (51.02m).