May 13, 2007

DAVIS, CA - New Jersey Institute of Technology's men's and women's track and field team competed at the Division I Independent Track and Field Championships at Woody Wilson Track at UC Davis this weekend.

UC Davis hosted the meet for the second time in the championship's three-year existence. Competition was open to any active Division I school not affiliated with a conference and reclassifying institutions.

Freshman sprinter Akitunde Oyawusi set a new school record in the 100 meter dash this weekend finishing 10th with a time of 11.64.

Sophomore Jeffrey Page set a school record in the 400 meter dash, breaking his old record of (52.10) at the Yale Invitational crossing the line with a time of (51.36), and finishing 13th out of 20.

Highlander sophomore Babatunde Busari broke his old record of (2:06.21) this weekend placing 17th with a time of 2:03.30 in the 800 meter run. Duc Tran set a new school-record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:47.11.

Thrower, Michalec Mateusz placed ninth in both the men's discus throw and men's javelin with throws of (112'02, 139'07).

The Highlanders scored two points in the 4 x 400 relay which consisted of Oyawusi, Page, Michalec and Busari who set a school-record placing seventh ahead of San Franscico at 45.85. In the 4 x 100 meter relay which consisted of Oyawusi, Page, Michalec and Gerad King, they set a new school-record of 3:32.61 and recorded one point for NJIT finishing seventh.

In the women's competition freshman Lesley Hendricks started off the Highlanders in the 200 meter dash placing 22nd crossing the line with a time of 27.41.

Junior Jackie McCaffrey set a new school record in the 400 meter hurdles in the preliminary rounds with a time of 1:15.36. She broke her recent time of 1.16.15 which she set at the Yale Invitational.

Freshman jumper Kasha Hornstein jumped a personal-best and placed 15th at the height of 4'7 in the high jump and 22nd in the long jump (11'11) behind junior Ashley Craig who recorded a 12'11 jump.

For the Highlanders, in the 4 x 100 relay which consisted of Hornstein, Hendricks, McCaffrey and Iulia Doci who finished seventh setting a new school-record 56.72 notching two points for NJIT.

The Highlanders, who are in their first season of competition at the NCAA Division I level close out the 2007 outdoor track and field season for both men's and women's track teams.