EWING, N.J./PHILADELPHIA, PA. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) track and field team showcased its growing strength and depth across multiple events on Friday, April 25, with student-athletes competing simultaneously at two premier meets: the Lions Invite, hosted by The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, NJ, and the Penn Relays, held at Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The Gothic Knights shattered two school records as both the men's and women's teams delivered standout performances in the sprint medley relays at the Penn Relays.

At the Lions Invite, junior thrower Sirell Clark (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) delivered another strong performance in the hammer throw, finishing 13th overall out of a field of 29 athletes. Clark recorded a mark of 43.53 meters, which now stands as the second-best throw in NJCU program history. With this latest result, Clark now owns the top seven hammer throw performances ever recorded by a Gothic Knight.

Meanwhile, at the historic Penn Relays, Tonna Ogina (North Brunswick, N.J./Highland Park) continued her impressive outdoor campaign in the high jump. Competing against 24 athletes representing institutions from all three NCAA divisions, Ogina tied her personal-best outdoor mark by clearing 1.60 meters, finishing in 10th place overall. Among Division III competitors in the event, she placed second, highlighting her competitiveness on a national level. Her 1.60m effort also ranks as the second-best outdoor high jump performance in NJCU history.

The Gothic Knights also fielded strong relay teams at the Penn Relays. In the College Women's Sprint Medley Championship of America, the quartet of Raven Orange (Carteret, N.J./Carteret), Saniya Chappius (Millville, N.J./Millville Senior), Reyanna Henderson (Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton Two), and Jezena Aponte (Jersey City, N.J./Snyder) clocked a time of 4:23.67. The group placed fifth in their heat and finished 20th overall out of 21 teams. They set history as the first Gothic Knights of the women's track and field team to compete in the sprint medley relay. 

On the men's side, NJCU entered a team in the men's sprint medley relay, comprised of Christan Palmer (Union, N.J./Union), Isaiah Ramirez (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens), Pratt Charles (Jersey City, N.J./University Charter), and Goncalo Carvalho (Newark, N.J./East Side High School). The team ran a combined time of 3:41.01, finishing 22nd out of 23 total teams. They broke the school record that was previously held by Jason Garcia (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson), Xavier Freeman, Roger Campbell, and Jake Sisk, who clocked a time of 3:49.47.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return to competition on Saturday, April 26 for Day Two of the Lions Invite at TCNJ with events scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

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