NEW YORK, NY - The Iona University women's track and field team opened competition Saturday at the 2026 MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Armory Track & Field Center, highlighted by a gold medal performance in the 5,000-meter run and multiple qualifiers advancing to Sunday's finals.
5,000-METER RUN
Junior
Tayla Gunton delivered a championship effort, capturing gold in 16:32.63 to secure maximum points for the Gaels.
Senior
Kate Tugman placed 14th in 18:35.54, and freshman
Alyssa Dovico finished 19th in 20:04.70.
DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY
The quartet of junior
McKenna Arguien, sophomore
Zaheira Hegazi, freshman
Sarah Wisnieski and freshman
Kayleigh Atkinson placed seventh in 12:24.27. Their finish added valuable points to the team total.
MILE RUN PRELIM
Freshman
Alex Schulz advanced to the mile final with a second place overall time of 5:00.98, positioning herself among the favorites heading into Sunday's championship race.
800-METER RUN PRELIM
Three Gaels competed in the 800-meter preliminaries, with two advancing to the final.
Freshman
Sofia Lumbreras placed third overall in 2:17.92, and freshman
Arabella Dickfos followed in fourth at 2:19.65 to secure spots in the final. Freshman Gabby Carroll finished 17th in 2:23.19.
IONA PERFORMERS
200 Prelim:
Alexa Hermanns, 36th, 27.51.
400 Prelim:
Nadine Jefremow, 11th, 59.03;
Zaheira Hegazi, 17th, 59.71.
800 Prelim:
Sofia Lumbreras, 3rd, 2:17.92Q;
Arabella Dickfos, 4th, 2:19.65Q; Gabby Carroll, 17th, 2:23.19. Mile Prelim:
Alex Schulz, 2nd, 5:00.98Q.
5000:
Tayla Gunton, 1st, 16:32.63;
Kate Tugman, 14th, 18:35.54;
Alyssa Dovico, 19th, 20:04.70.
Long Jump:
Alexa Hermanns, 25th, 4.69m.
DMR: Mckenna Arguien,
Zaheira Hegazi,
Sarah Wisnieski,
Kayleigh Atkinson, 7th, 12:24.27.
UP NEXT
The MAAC Championships continue tomorrow at the Armory. Events will start at Noon, a change in the original start time due to an inclement weather forecast Sunday night.
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