STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - At the NYC Gotham Cup on Jan. 17, 2025, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) track and field team showcased several impressive performances at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Center. Senior Reyanna Henderson (Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton Two) had an outstanding day, winning the 60m dash with a personal best of 8.03 seconds, qualifying her for her third event at the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Championship (AARTFC). Junior Pratt Charles (Jersey City, N.J./University Charter) also qualified for the AARTFC in the 400m dash, while sophomore Jezena Aponte (Jersey City, N.J./Snyder) broke the mile run program record.

Henderson continued her success in the 400m dash, where she crushed her previous personal best with a time of 59.20 seconds to place fifth. The Pemberton, N.J. native also competed in the 200m dash, finishing 26th with a time of 26.43 seconds.

Sophomore Alonah Olden (Lake George, N.Y./Lake George) also ran the 60m dash, recording a season-best time of 9.44 seconds, securing 29th place. Aponte made her one-mile collegiate debut, placing 16th with a time of 5:30.47, breaking the NJCU program record.

Freshman Tonna Ogina (North Brunswick, N.J./Highland Park) had a remarkable performance, placing sixth in the high jump with a personal best of 1.60m and making her triple jump collegiate debut, finishing eighth with a mark of 10.96m. Junior Lucy Pelaez (Jersey City, N.J./Snyder) represented NJCU in the shot put, throwing 7.35m for a 35th-place finish. She also achieved a personal best in the weight throw with a mark of 8.34m, placing 32nd. Junior Shyanne Anson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) also competed in the weight throw, leading the team with a personal best of 11.73m, finishing 22nd.

On the men's side, three Gothic Knights competed in the 60m dash, with freshman Christan Palmer (Union, N.J./Union) leading the way with a 36th-place finish in 7.51 seconds. Freshman Anthony El Helou (Beirut, Lebanon/Kfarchima) followed with a season-best time of 7.93 seconds for 49th place, while freshman Steven Maldonado (San Juan, Puerto Rico/James J. Ferris (N.J.)) rounded out the dash with a season-best 8.09 seconds, securing 52nd place. Palmer also led NJCU in the 200m dash, placing 48th with a personal best of 23.43 seconds. Sophomore Isaiah Ramirez (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens) finished 53rd in the 200m dash with a time of 23.54 seconds, and junior Gerard Victor (Irvington, N.J./Payne Tech) rounded out the race for the Gothic Knights with a 23.75 finish, placing 70th.

In the 400m dash, junior Pratt Charles (Jersey City, N.J./University Charter) placed seventh with a season-best time of 50.15 seconds, qualifying him for AARTFC. while Ramirez followed closely behind in 16th place with a season-best 50.92 seconds. Victor finished 43rd with a time of 53.29 seconds. Freshman Jeremiah Saunders (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfied) made his collegiate debut in the 1,000m race, finishing 27th with a time of 2:49.70.

Charles also competed in the long jump, marking a season-best 6.60m to secure eighth place. Freshmen Kenny Balisage (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Park) and Maldonado rounded out the long jump, placing 42nd and 43rd, respectively, with marks of 5.16m and 5.09m. In the shot put, freshman Daniel Jackson (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln) threw a season-best 10.49m to finish 30th.

Junior Sirell Clark (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) competed in the weight throw, achieving a mark of 11.95m to place 24th.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights will return to action on Jan. 25 at the Wesleyan Indoor Invitational in Middletown, Conn., with events set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.