Rowan men’s track and field finished first as a team in the METS Championship at Icahn Stadium in New York, running over the competition with 196.5 points, finishing 62 points ahead of second place Fordham.

Highlighting the day was the hurdle group that took the first five spots in the 110m hurdle. First was Marquise Young (14.62), followed by Jason Agyemang (14.65), Kwaku Nkrumah (14.79), Michael Lawrence (15.15), and Anaias Hughes (15.43).

“Oh, it’s great knowing that they can come in and always score points in these conference-level meets,”  head coach Dustin Dimit said. “We’re counting on them to get three or four guys in each of the hurdle events to nationals and do the same thing there. It’s just great to have that depth and really push each other to make everybody better.”

With this hurdle group continuing to shine, the Profs have a guarantee that in most meets they will have someone who will be in a position to win this event.

“It means a lot, when I first came here, I was by myself,” Young said. “Seeing that difference that we brought in a lot of guys that can help the team and help perform at the level we perform means a lot.”

Young has led this group for years, way before they had four or five guys that could win any meeting. His ability to bring that winning mindset has helped bind this group that is one of, if not, the best in the nation.  

“He’s been a leader since he’s been here,” Dimit said. “Especially the last two years with this hurdle group, really helping set the pace for what we want to do and how we want to prepare in practice and in meets. He’s just a great leader in that hurdle group and on the team as [a]whole.”  

The Profs had five first-place finishers and continue to show why they are ranked second in the nation.  We’re in mid-April, and the NCAA championship inches closer each week, sitting about a month and a half away.  

“I definitely think we’ll be top four with a chance to win,” Dimit said. “It depends how things go that day, there’s a little bit of luck in it, but we want to have those 15-20 entries into nationals that it takes to have a chance. We definitely think we’ll do that and be in contention at the end of the year.”  

Rowan has a serious shot to win it all this year, especially if they can get those entries they’ve been seeking. It would be the first time since 1984, when legendary coach Oscar Moore was at the helm, that the Profs could pull off the feat.

“Yeah, of course [it’s within reach],” Young said. “Especially with the way our hurdles have been running.  I’m hoping that we can get at least four in the 110’s and four in the 400 hurdles to help the team get that national title.”

The Profs will be in action in two separate places this weekend. Some will be at Princeton for the Larry Ellis Invitational and others will be at the TCNJ Invitational on Friday and Saturday.  

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