EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ women's track and field team claimed a pair of individual titles on Day 1 of the NJAC Championships Saturday afternoon, helping the Lions finish second in the team standings following the opening day's events. Rowan sits in first with a meet-best 87 points followed closely by the Lions (72.5), with Stockton (47) rounding out the top three programs.
 
ON THE TRACK

• TCNJ opened Saturday's Championship on top thanks to Cassidy Quinn, who finished first in the 10,000 meter by over 25 seconds after crossing the line in 39:05.44.  Lea Martin also earned a point for the Lions, finishing her 10K in 43:21.58 to take eighth.
• Molly Bossdorf led a quartet of TCNJ runners in the Steeplechase, finishing fourth with a time of 11:51.20. The Lions also got points from Carmelina Sanci (6th / 12:39.27), Alysa Sizintsev (7th / 13:25.89) and Ella Freehan (8th / 13:34.70).
• Setting themselves up for success on Day 2, TCNJ had multiple runners qualify in all four preliminary events Saturday.
  • Rukiyat Daranijo took the top spot in the 400, crossing the line in 56.92. Brenna Omert and Cameron Ruffini also qualified for Sunday's final after finishing in sixth and seventh.
  • Petra Doherty and Mackenzie Burke snuck into the final of the 100, crossing the line in seventh and eighth with times of 12.64 and 12.68 respectively.
  • Eliza Bruncaj finished third in the 400m hurdles with her time of 1:02.88 followed closely by Burke (4th / 1:04.38).
  • Daranijo and Doherty will both compete in a second final Sunday after taking fifth and eighth in the 200m. Doherty narrowly beat out Ruffini and Dallas Walther for the final spot.
• The Lions own three of the top four spots in the heptathlon following the Day 1 events. Sarah Scepkowski (2570 points)  holds a commanding, 356-point lead over Samantha Magin (2214), with Erin McGauley sitting in fourth with 1895.

IN THE FIELD

• As was the case on the track, TCNJ opened Saturday's field events with a win coming from Kerri McCarthy in the weight throw. The senior took the top spot in the event with her throw of 52.06 meters. Coming in just behind McCarthy in second was Jessica Reilly, whose mark of 50.08 meters earned the senior second. Allison Lavin was the final Lion to score, finishing in seventh with her throw of 43.55 meters.
• Lia Malave was TCNJ's top finisher in the long jump after placing fourth with her mark 5.33 meters, followed by Bruncaj who finished seventh after clearing 5.08 meters on her first attempt.
• Maya Scannell earned a runner-up finish in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 3.35 meters to secure the Lions eight more points. Isabella Mraz was TCNJ's other point-getter in the event, clearing 2.55 meters on her first attempt to tie for seventh.
• Saturday's events concluded with the javelin throw where Lily Lorio (37.45m) and Annalise Stephens (37.20)  finished second and third respectively.

UP NEXT

• Day 2 of the NJAC Championship is set to begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. with the final heptathlon events before track and field events start up in the afternoon.