Molly Lodge competes in a race. Lodge was apart of the 4x100 relay team that took home first place. - Photo via Rowan Athletics
Rowan’s women’s outdoor track and field team displayed development at the Paul Donohue Invitational, hosted by Widener University in Chester, PA, and the Johns Hopkins/Loyola Invitational in Baltimore, MD, on April 18 and 19.
While there was no team scoring at the meets, the Profs accomplished multiple season bests and PRs. Head coach Shedrick Elliot III stated that the team is showing progression after both meets.
“ I’d say all in all, we are continuing to make progress,” said Elliot. “ The Widener group, we had a few solid 5k PRs and personal bests. Then, back at Hopkins, had a really solid four by one. Molly Lodge PR’ing in the 200 and the 400. Nyla [Jones] getting her feet wet in the 400 hurdles and a handful of more personal records in the 200 as well.”
The highlight of the weekend for the Profs was the 4×100 relay first-place (46.94) performance at the Johns Hopkins/Loyola Invitational by seniors Molly Lodge, Nevaeh Lorjuste, Jasmine Broadway, and freshman Nyla Jones. Despite their strong performance, the quartet of runners found out last second that they’d be running together.
“ It was pretty impressive, being that we literally threw it together 15 minutes before the race,” said Elliot. “We didn’t do any practice or anything until about 15 minutes before the race.”
Another highlight of the weekend was the outing by Jones as she placed first in the 100-meter hurdles (14.48) and fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:02.93). Jones, who also won the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women’s Track and Field Rookie of the Week for the third time this season, was extremely pleased with her performance in the 100-meter hurdles.
“ I’m very happy,” said Jones. “It wasn’t a PR, but I felt very good going into the race. I wasn’t able to warm up, so I was really nervous about that, but I didn’t let any of that get to me, and I still ran and did my best.”
Another focus of the weekend was the performance by Lodge in both the 200 meters (24.75) and 400 meters (56.82), as she finished third in both. Lodge was excited to get to compete in warm weather over the weekend.
“ I am a warm-weather athlete,” said Lodge. “I’ll perform in cold, but I love it when we can get like an 80 degree day. It’s a game changer. I absolutely love it when it’s hot, humid, muggy, almost. Those are my perfect, ideal conditions.”
At the Paul Donohue Invitational, senior Anna Sasse turned in a new NJAC No. 1 time in the 3000 steeplechase. The Williamstown native, who placed third in the event (11:13.91), is determined to be more confident with herself and be more in the moment.
“ Next time going into it, I have to be more confident in myself and remember that I enjoy the race even though it’s a hard race,” said Sasse. “It’s my thing, and I love it. So now it’s good to know that and remember that going forward, and just have fun and do my best.”
The Profs return to action this weekend at The Penn Relays from April 24-26 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA, and the Lions Invitational hosted by The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on April 25 and 26.
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