BRONX, N.Y. (January 21, 2012) – The Rutgers women’s track and field team competed at the Great Dane Classic on Friday, Jan. 20, at the NY Armory Track and Field Center. The Scarlet Knights placed 11th in a field of 25 schools with 28 points.

"We were very good in some events and not quite up to the challenge in other events,” said head coach James Robinson. “The heightened level of competition this meet provided will aid in our preparation for the Metropolitan Championships. Although we did not utilize the meet for team competition purposes, because we held several student-athletes out of a number of events, we were able to come out of the competition with some personal records and conference championship qualifying marks."

Tylia Gillon (New Egypt, N.J.) placed in a tie for first in the 60-meter dash with a BIG EAST and ECAC qualifying time of 7.61. Gillon also earned a BIG EAST qualifying time in the 200-meter, running 25.18 (seventh place).

The Distance Medley relay team of Jennifer Spitzer (Fairport, N.Y.), Corryn Hurrington (Bowie, Md.), Allison Payenski (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) and Ashley Deckert (Newfield, N.J.) finished second with a BIG EAST and ECAC time of 11:52.12. Nwamaka Okobi (Freeport, N.Y.) also earned a BIG EAST and ECAC mark, placing fifth in the long jump with a leap of 18’ 11.25”.

Rounding out the BIG EAST qualifying marks for the Scarlet Knights were Ekene Ugboaja (Edison, N.J.) in the triple jump, Victoria Pontecorvo (Staten Island, N.Y.) in the mile, and Hurrington and Gabrielle Farquharson (Williamstown, N.J.) in the 200-meter. Ugboaja placed seventh with a leap of 38’ 8.75”, while Pontecorvo ran 5:04.00 in the mile. Farquharson clocked a time of 25.22 followed by Hurrington in 25.36.

Rutgers will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 26 for the Metropolitan Championships at the Armory.

Team Scores

1. Connecticut                                   114.2

2. Maryland-Eastern Shore          95

3. Villanova                                         68.5

4. Toledo                                             58

5. Long Island                                     44

6. Albany                                             42

7. Monmouth                                    38.4

8. Cal St. Northridge                        38

9. Penn                                                 33.4

10. Northeastern                             31

11. Rutgers                                         28

12. Coppin State                               19

12. Manhattan                                  19

14. Delaware                                      15

14. Morgan State                             15

16. So. Conn. St.                               8

17. Georgian Court                          7

18. Va. Military Institute                5.5

19. Unattached                                 5

20. Mansfield                                     4

21. Adelphi                                         3

21. Central Connecticut                 3

22. Delaware State                          3

24. Bronx CC                                       2

24. College of St. Rose                   2

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