New Jersey City University Athletics

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA...The New Jersey City University men's outdoor track and field team chose one of the biggest stages of the track and field world to break an all-time national record. In front of a crowd of 49,771 at Franklin Field during the third day of the 112^th annual Penn Relays on Saturday, NJCU's quartet of junior ANTHONY MILES (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township), sophomore THOMAS HUNTER (Los Angeles, CA/Washington (CA)), senior RONALD HUSSEY (Paterson, NJ/Mt. St. Michael Academy (Bronx, NY)) and junior TERRY PEARSON (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) set an all-time Division III national record in the 4x100-meter relay by timing an incredible 39.95 seconds.

 

NJCU became the first team in Division III history to break 40 seconds in the 4x100, obliterating the previous national record of 40.19 by Lincoln University (PA) on May 27, 2000.

 

NJCU also crushed the school record of 40.31 seconds, achieved on May 28, 2005, by a team that included Hussey and Miles.

 

"I am so proud of them," said assistant coach and sprint coach #CHARLES MAYS, Jr#. "They ran almost a perfect race today. They almost couldn't believe they ran that fast. We opened a lot of eyes today. It proves that it doesn't matter what Division you're in, as long as you run fast."

               

Running against a predominantly Division I field in the 1:25 p.m. 4x100 relay, NJCU finished second overall in the heat, blowing away major Division I schools that included Auburn University (40.63) and University of Kentucky (40.67), and finished only behind the University of Texas (39.66).

 

Of all schools that reached the 4x100 heats, NJCU also outran such notable opponents as East Carolina University (40.36), Division II powerhouse St. Augustine's College (40.38), Indiana University (40.59), and Penn State University (41.43).

               

Of all schools in all divisions that ran on Saturday, NJCU had the fifth fastest time. Louisiana State University (LSU) ran 39.22. Only Division I track powers Texas, The University of Tennessee (39.77) and Texas Christian University (TCU) (39.89) also posted faster times.

               

Meanwhile, NJCU also recorded the fastest time of any college or University from the state of New Jersey, with Rider University being the closest at 41.31.

 

The Gothic Knights were nearly two seconds faster than the only other Division III school in the race--Lincoln University--which timed 41.67.