The TCNJ women’s track and field team competed at the Paul Donahue Invitational, delivering a strong all-around performance over the weekend, according to an April 18 announcement.
The meet showcased both track and field athletes from TCNJ, who continued their successful start to the outdoor season. The team’s efforts resulted in several top finishes among Division III competitors.
On the track, TCNJ’s A relay in the 4×100 placed second overall and first among Division III relays with a time of 47.35 seconds. Team members Mackenzie Burke, Rukky Daranijo, Kelsey Thomas, and Lucia-Garcia Beltran achieved a top-20 national time for Division III this year. In individual events, Garcia-Beltran finished fourth overall in the 200 meters with a time of 24.31 seconds—the fastest among Division III runners—and posted the sixth-fastest time nationally in that event this year. She also led Division III runners in the 100 meters with an 11.96 finish; Thomas followed as the next-fastest from Division III at 12th place (12.50).
In other relay events, Thomas joined Kelly O’Grady, Burke, and Daranijo for a fourth-place finish in the 4×400 relay—second-best among Division III teams at this meet. Burke ran fifth overall in the 400 hurdles (1:03.32), marking another top-30 national time for her division; Casey Noonan also placed tenth (1:07.24). Daranijo secured sixth place in the open 400 meters (58.55), while Brenna Omert was ninth (59.64). Ava Biemuller (15th), Teagan Walker (18th), and Ella Daly (19th) each earned spots inside of the top twenty for TCNJ in the women’s 5000 meters.
O’Grady recorded a notable mark by finishing her race with one of this year’s fifty fastest times nationally for Division III athletes in the women’s 800 meters (2:14.72).
In field events, Allison Lavin took second place in shot put with a throw of 13.02 meters and third place in javelin at 36.39 meters; she also finished fourth overall in hammer throw with a distance of 45.64 meters.
Sarah Scepkowski was eighth overall—and best among Lions—in high jump by clearing height at 1.55m; Emily Donise was tenth at that event with her own jump of 1.45m while Scepkowski had TCNJ’s longest leap during long jump competition as well (5.01m). Maya Scannell led pole vault performances for TCNJ by placing ninth after clearing three-and-a-quarter meters.
Lia Malave placed seventh and Larissa Itondo ninth respectively during triple jump competition; Itondo also ran nineteenth place during her heat of women’s hurdles.
