From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's track & field team completed its stay in Cleveland, OH, by tying for sixth place at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Indoor Championships this weekend, February 24-25.
NYU finished with 25 points (as did Carnegie Mellon University), trailing Case Western Reserve University for fifth by nine points. The University of Chicago took the the top spot on the podium with 138 points.
Starting the day off with a bang, junior Justina Sanders-Schifano captured a gold medal by dominating the 400m with a new school record. The Sodus, NY, native took first by clocking a time of 57.15, over a full second quicker than her qualifying time. The previous program record of 57.33 was set by Lauren Henkel in 2004.
"Unbelievable. Amazing talent," said Head Coach Erison Hurtault. "To win out of the first section, which is traditionally for the slowest seeds, and to take almost two seconds off her time is a terrific feat. Her competitors were not expecting that performance. For her first competition of the season in the 400m that is pretty good."
Continuing her success on the field, sophomore Evelyn Nkanga defended her 2017 triple jump title by leaping a distance of 11.76m. Her next closest competitor was Heidi Nassos of Washington University in St. Louis in second with a jump that was three tenths of a meter back (11.46m).
"Evelyn did it again," said Hurtault. "It was a great performance. She is just going to keep getting better and better. I think she is one of those people that has national potential."
The distance runners were represented in the 3,000m. Junior Sabrina Herrmann paced the Violets by placing seventh with a time of 10:21.41. Following behind in 12th and 19th were seniors Hannah Haley(career best 10:36.02) and Morel Malcolm (11:15.04), respectively.
NYU's 4x400m relay team just missed snatching some more medals. The squad of Sanders-Schifano, Nkanga, senior Ireland Gibson, and freshman Noela Franco took fourth with a season-best time of 4:03.51.
"It's important these guys rose to the occasion," said Hurtault. "I am very proud of how they competed. Everyone who was supposed to really compete put it out there."