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As the NJAC championships passed by for Rowan women’s indoor track and field, head coach Shedrick Elliott III began to think about how to motivate his team after such a big event with more coming up in the future. He turned to the Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off a Super Bowl win, their second ever in franchise history.
The players talked about four things that allow them to be an elite group of athletes: disappointment, execution, love for one another, and love for their families. While all are important, one was more than anything right now for Elliott III and the team: disappointment.
While the Profs performed at a high level over the weekend, 5.5 points is all that hung between the team and an NJAC Championship, as TCNJ took home the title with 179 points compared to Rowan’s 173.5.
“We can allow this disappointment to either fuel us or fracture us,” Elliott III said. “It’s going to ultimately be your choice. My hope is to fuel us going into the outdoor season.”
On day one of the NJAC Championships in Philadelphia, the 4×200 relay team of Molly Lodge, Jasmine Pope, Jasmine Broadway, and Nevaeh Lorjuste ran the fastest time in Rowan history for a first-place finish of 1:40.75. The group of four ran a 1:41.61 at last year’s NJAC Championships, setting the previous No. 1 time.
Gabriella Pagano won the 5000 meters with a time of 18:23.57. Emily Zanni was third in the event with a time of 18:43.96, and Shannon Stakelbeck was fourth with a mark of 19:00.87.
“They were running to contribute to the team, and you could see that,” Elliott III said.
On the throwing side of things, Lexi Bey was the runner-up in the shot with an indoor PR of 12.09 meters.
The distance medley relay team registered the No. 22 Division III time of 12:26.76 in a second-place finish, with the group consisting of Gabriella Pagano, Ava Rizzo, Paige Franklin, and Lisa O’Sullivan.
Nyla Jones ran a top-35 Division III time of 9.01 in the 60-meter hurdles, while Molly Lodge and Kayla Julien advanced to the finals on Saturday in the 60-meter.
On Sunday, Nevaeh Lorjuste won the 400 meters for the first time in her career, registering a time of 58.00. Molly Lodge also won the 200 meters with a season-best and second-best indoor career time of 25.37.
The duo of Lodge and Lorjuste paired up with Jasmine Pope and Paige Franklin to win the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:53.87, their top time of the year.
Nyla Jones was first in the 60-meter hurdles, improving her time from 9.01 on Saturday to 8.95 on Sunday. The difference took her from a top-35 time in Division III to a top-28.
Sophomore Ava Rizzo set a personal record, taking third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.64. Senior Anna Sasse placed second in the mile, recording a time of 5:08.67.
On Friday, Feb. 28, a group of about eight girls will go to Staten Island, New York for the final time this season for the Fasttrack Last Chance, another opportunity to just get extra reps.
After that, the team will set their sights on the AARTFC Championships in Ithaca, New York to try and place some girls into the NCAA Division III Championships in Rochester, New York.
Cue some Frank Sinatra, because it’s New York, New York from this point on.
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