LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The Iona University women's outdoor track and field team competed on Day 1 of the 2024 MAAC Championships hosted by Rider University. The Gaels earned three medals during the opening afternoon with freshman
Tyaja Thomas and sophomore
Kate Tugman earning silvers and freshman
Claragh Keane picking up bronze. Three other Iona runners earned qualifying times for tomorrow's final heats.
JAVELIN THROW
Thomas earned the first MAAC medal of her career with a silver in the javelin throw. Her best toss of 39.40m was a personal just under a meter shy of gold. It was her second silver of the season following a similar finish at METS.
3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE
Tugman made her MAAC outdoor debut and finished with a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final. Her time of 11:11.44 was 11 seconds behind the race winner and nearly four seconds ahead of third place. The transfer from UCLA and Florida State ran a 16-second personal best time.
10,000-METER RUN
Keane was the bronze medalist in the 10,000-meter run, posting a time of 36:08.50 in the longest event at the championship. Redshirt freshman
Tayla Gunton also ran her first outdoor 10k event at Iona and earned sixth place points in 36:36.83.
1,500-METER RUN PRELIMINARIES
Junior
Holly Smith was the Gaels' top performer in the preliminary rounds posting a MAAC-best 4:40.49. The personal best time for Smith was also a season-best for the Gaels. Junior
Cosmina Spiridon also qualified with a 4:50.34, finishing fourth in the third heat of the event. Freshman
Alexa Doe set a personal best time with a 5:09.88.
400-METER RUN PRELIMINARIES
Sophomore
Nadine Jefremow was Iona's final qualifier of the day, finishing seventh in the 400-meter run with a personal best time of 1:00.03. She beat her previous best time by .03 seconds and remains No. 3 on the Gaels all-time performance list.
LONG JUMP
Senior
Tonian Fullerton posted a 4.83m leap in the long jump, a season best.
100-METER DASH PRELIMINARIES
Fullerton was also 15th in the 100-meter dash in 13.50.
800-METER RUN PRELIMINARIES
Junior
Katie Menard (19th, 2:23.68), senior
Jamie Gudyka (20th, 2:23.92) and junior
Isabel Raymond (23rd, 2:32.50) all competed in the 800-meter event for the Gaels.
IONA COMPETITORS
100 prelims:
Tonian Fullerton, 15th, 13.50.
400 prelims:
Nadine Jefremow, 7th, 1:00.03.
800 prelims:
Katie Menard, 19th, 2:23.68;
Jamie Gudyka, 20th, 2:23.92;
Isabel Raymond, 23rd, 2:32.50.
1500 prelims:
Holly Smith, 1st, 4:40.49;
Cosmina Spiridon, 12th, 4:50.34;
Alexa Doe, 25th, 5:09.88.
10k:
Claragh Keane, 3rd, 36:08.50;
Tayla Gunton, 6th, 36:36.83.
3k chase:
Kate Tugman, 2nd, 11:11.44.
Javelin:
Tyaja Thomas, 2nd, 39.40m.
Long Jump:
Tonian Fullerton, 24th, 4.83m.
UP NEXT
Iona continues action tomorrow morning.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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