From NYU Athletics

The New York University women's track & field team placed sixth at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Indoor Championships on Sunday, February 26, hosted by Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.

NYU totaled 31 points through the 16 events. Washington University in St. Louis captured the UAA Indoor Championship title, recording 159 points over the weekend meet. 

Freshman Evelyn Nkanga was the Violets sole first-place winner, as she took the gold in the triple jump with a personal best distance of 11.36m. Last year's bronze winner, senior Simone Cooper secured the silver this year by clearing a career-best distance of 11.22m. Junior Brianna Yee followed behind in seventh, clearing her own personal-best distance of 10.45m.

"Those two were huge for us today," said Head Coach Erison Hurtault. "Simone is a team captain helping a freshman who is very talented. I am very excited about seeing what Evelyn can do the next three years. And, I am also glad I can keep counting on Simone for big performances."

On the track, Fatimat Ayinde just missed a spot on the podium in both the 55m dash and 55m hurdles. Ayinde first landed in fourth in the 55m dash, posting a time of 7.44. The Union, NJ, native followed that up by again taking fourth in the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.50, putting her 16-hundredths of a second behind the University of Chicago's Robin Peter. 

Sophomore Mary Conti followed suit and missed podium time with a fourth-place finish in the 400m dash. Conti's time of 58.16 trailed Washington's Kelli Hancock's time by less than 10-hundredths of a second. 

"Conti had another great run," said Hurtault. "The 400m field in the UAA is incredibly tough. Her race was exceptional. It bodes well for the outdoor season. As for Ayinde, she had two solid performances against very solid fields. She came out and performed very well right out of the blocks. She is going to be an asset."

HIGHLIGHTS:

- NYU's 4x400 relay team (sophomore Samantha Scoggins, Nkanga, sophomore Danielle Murray, and Conti) finished in sixth, registering a time of 4:06.72.

- Freshman Helen Joyner placed eighth in the shot put with a toss of 10.36m.

- The mile saw juniors Hannah Haley and Megan Davis finish in stride with one another in 14th (career-best 5:27.78) and 15th (career-best 5:28.86), respectively. Senior Justine Morris followed behind in 18th by recording a time of 5:32.14.

"We have the makings of a stronger program," Hurtault added. "We just have to build all the areas up equally."