Stephens Breaks TJ Mark, Provisionally Qualifies for NCAAs

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (5/16/09) - For the second straight meet, junior Sherene Stephens (Orange, N.J.) broke the triple jump record and met the provisional qualifying standards for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Competing at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships at Springfield College, Stephens had a school-record jump of 11.42 meters, exceeding the 11.29 meters she jumped last week and surpassing the 11.30-meter provisional qualifying standards for the NCAA Championships.

In other action, rookie Stephanie Cozzolongo (Bloomfield, N.J.) finished 13^th in the javelin throw (34.31 meters) and the women's 400-meter relay team was 19^th in 51.24 seconds.

Senior Seun Oyelaja (Lagos, Nigeria) placed in the top 10 in a pair of events, finishing 5^th in the 200-meter dash (21.97 seconds) and 10^th in the 100-meter dash (11.26 meters).

Also placing twice in the top 10 was senior Jason Staggers (Jackson, N.J.), as he was eighth in the triple jump (13.50 meters) and 10^th in the long jump (6.49 meters).

In other field events, rookie Aaron Lucas (Union, N.J.) was 10^th in the high jump (1.90 meters) and sophomore John Badala (Scotch Plains, N.J.) was eighth in the javelin throw (52.91 meters) and 15^th in the shot put (13.62 meters).

The 400-meter relay team was ninth (43.21 seconds) and the 1600-meter squad placed 28^th (3:28.54).