Roadrunner Track Teams Compete at NJAC Championship

On Saturday, March 1, Ramapo College’s men and women’s track and field teams both competed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship held at The Armory in New York City. The event was held on the New Balance Track and Field Center there. The Ramapo men’s track and field team placed second overall with 161 points, and the women’s team placed third overall with 117 points. Some of the other colleges competing in the 2013-2014 championship included Montclair State, Rutgers, Rowan, TCNJ and Stockton State.

Coach Mike Jackson called both teams’ performances “solid and eye-opening.” Jackson continued by saying that, even with “lots of new team members, they overcame their inexperience and some injuries” to excel in Saturday’s events. 

In regard to the men’s team, Jackson believes they did “best in short sprints.” Some standout performances for the Roadrunners came from junior Daryl Ansley, who received first place, completing the 60-meter dash in just over seven seconds and gaining 10 points for the Ramapo team. Sophomore Phillip Dowell and freshman Roland Gamez both excelled in the triple jump, garnering first and second place respectively.

The women’s team had numerous highlights too. Senior Taylor Furman came in first place in weight throw for her second straight year in a row. Her weight throw of 16.20 meters broke the meet record of 15.93 meters set back in 2011 by a Richard Stockton athlete. Furman’s throw also broke the Ramapo school record. The senior also won an individual title in shotput, marking 12.18 meters.

When asked what he thought the women’s team did especially well in, Coach Jackson said “the women did best in the pole vault.”

Junior Brittany DalCais came in first place in the pole vault, clearing 3.73 meters and gaining 10 points for the team. Teammate Danielle Wankmuller, a junior, placed third and sophomore Emily Shipley placed fifth in pole vaulting, giving the team nearly 9.5 points.

In addition, the women’s 4 X 200 meter relay team, made up of junior Jasmine Hammonds, senior Chelsea Clark and freshmen Mariah Blanton and Tanai Johnson, came in first place with a time of 1:43:79. Their relay event earned 10 points for the team.

Looking to the future and how the teams can improve, coach Jackson believes that “the men’s team can strengthen their leadership,” whereas the women “can be more mentally prepared,” he said.

The Roadrunners head to Boston this coming weekend, March 7 and 8, for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships in Boston, M.A.  

jstewar1@ramapo.edu