Message from Steve Dolan:

Alumni,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to give you the last update of the TCNJ track & field season as the Lions competed admirably at the NCAA Outdoor Championships hosted by Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. A press release of the meet is below and a photo of the women's 4x100m winning relay is attached.

-Steve Dolan TCNJ wins two national titles at NCAA Track Championships and produces 12 All-Americans Decatur, IL…
The College of New Jersey’s The College of New Jersey’s men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams wrapped action on Saturday at the 2004 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Millikin University (Decatur, IL) by winning a pair of national titles as the women’s team won both the 4 x 100 relay and the 4 x 400 relay at the meet. For the meet, the Lions produced 12 All-Americans and a pair of national champions.

In the team standings, TCNJ’s women’s team finished in fifth place with a score of 33.0 points, while the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the women’s team title with a score of 57.0 points. On the men’s side, the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse won the team title with 101.0 points, while the Lions finished in 24th place with a score of 12.0 points.

TCNJ’s head track and field coach, Steve Dolan was also cited as the Atlantic Region Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year for his efforts this past year with the Lions.

TCNJ’s women’s 4 x 100 relay team won the race with a Division III season best time of 47.25 - a TCNJ school record. In the women’s 4 x 400 relay, the Lions won the national title there as well with another Division III season best time of 3:44.82, also a new school mark in the event. Twenty years ago, the Lions won the national championship in both of these events at the 1984 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. With their 2004 NCAA performance, TCNJ’s women’s track and field program has now produced 12 national champions.

In the women’s 4 x 100 relay, the Lions posted a first place finish behind the efforts of freshman Khristelle Manuyag (Cranford, NJ/Cranford), and sophomores Brittny Boyd (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown), Kate Powell (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) and Tiffany Clark (West Orange, NJ/West Orange). They entered the finals seeded fifth after a trials time of 47.73.

In the women’s 4 x 400 relay, the Lions won their second national championship on the day after recording a time of 3:44.82 in the finals. On the relay for the Lions were Powell, Boyd, freshman Angela Tecco (Wildwood Crest, NJ/Lower Cape May), and Clark. The Lions had a trial time of 3:48.06. In the women’s 400 meter run, Clark picked up second straight runner-up finish at the outdoor NCAA’s as she posted a time of 54.61 in the race. The national runner-up a year ago in the same event, Clark is now a seven time All-American at TCNJ.

In the women’s 100 meter dash, Boyd picked up her third All-America citation on the day after finishing in fourth in the race in 12.32 and is now a 10-time All-American in track at TCNJ in just two seasons with the Lions. Another All-American for the Lions was senior decathlete Chad Williams (Tabernacle, NJ/Shawnee), who picked up his third All-America award after finishing in fourth place in the decathlon this week. Williams posted a school record score of 6,625 points, besting his own mark of 6,516 points, which he set a year ago after finishing in sixth place in the event. As a sophomore, Williams finished in fifth place in the decathlon and with his effort this year is now a three-time place finisher in the event.

Sophomore Jeff Zodda (Mercerville, NJ/Notre Dame) collected All-America honors for his efforts in the 800 meter dash after posting a time of 1:53.21 to take sixth place. Zodda is now a three-time All-American in track at TCNJ. In the trials, he posted a school record time of 1:50.16, besting his own mark from earlier in the year.

TCNJ’s sophomore Jeff Schwerdtman (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) collected his first career All-America honors as he took fifth in the discus with a fifth place finish after his throw of 52.14 meters (171’1”) in the finals. His performance was also a TCNJ school record, breaking the record set in 1999 by John Crowley (162’9”). Schwerdtman joined teammate Chris Tranchina (Elberon, NJ/Ocean Township) in the shot put competition, throwing 15.13 and 14.93 meters respectively.

Senior Beth Vesey (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey) competed in her final race as a collegiate athlete and finished in 11th place in the 5,000 meter run. A three-time All-American on her career, Vesey’s time in the race was s18:03.95.

Senior Joe Gargione (Absecon, NJ/Absegami) competed in the javelin event and had a trial effort of 57.01 and stood fifth in his flight. Senior Kevin Semanick (Lansdale, PA/LaSalle) ran in the 400 meter hurdles for the Lions and posted a time of 53.38 in the trials, finishing in fifth in his heat and missed qualifying for the final by 0.03 seconds.

The men also ran in the 4 x 400 relays at the championships and posted a season best time of 3:14.15 in the trials, but did not advance. On the relay for the Lions was sophomore Mike Stomiany (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge), Kevin Semanick, Jeff Zodda, and junior Tim Wilson (Randolph, NJ/Randolph).

In the women’s 100 meter hurdles, sophomore Erika Huggler (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) posted a trials time of 15.83. In the 400 meter hurdles, Kate Powell had a time of 66.87 in the trials to finish in sixth in her heat.