MAHWAH, NJ—The NJIT men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams turned in top performances in both running and field events this weekend at the Ramapo Invitational at the Athletic Center Turf on the campus of Ramapo.
The NJIT women finished third with 68.3 points out of 28 teams while NJIT men placed fifth with 49 points out of 23 teams.

Junior Blake Brancato placed first in the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase, finishing with a time of 9:49.35, to pick up 10 points for the Highlanders.

In the men’s pole vault, Calvin Gould took first with a height of 4.00m.

In the men’s hammer throw, Michael Haraka notched a season-best performance with a distance of 42.36m, good for third place.

Distance runner Gerard Gill finished in the top five of the men’s 5000 meter run, clocking in with a time of 15:48.03, picking up four points for NJIT.

Middle distance runner Joseph Onubogu placed in the top 5 in the men’s 800 meter run, clocking in with a time of 2:00.48.

In the men’s shot put, Billy Forrester took ninth with a distance of 11.47m followed by Sawyer Gara in 11thwith a distance of 10.97m.

Sophomore sprinter Elisabeth Paulina captured the title in the women’s 400 meter dash with a time of 57.77.

Highlanders Mary Henshaw and Kim Deluca went 1-2 in the women’s pole vault, both clearing the height of 2.90m.

NJIT’s Shannon Turner notched a personal-best mark in the women’s hammer throw, with a distance of 32.77m, taking fifth and a 10th place finish in the women’s shot put at 8.47m.

In the women’s 5000 meter run, the Highlanders had two top-nine performances – Kelli Hesse placing seventh with a time of 19:41.55, earning two points for the Highlanders while Roshni Patel took ninth, clocking in at 19:54.18.

Highlander Trish Roche placed in the top four in the women’s 400 meter hurdles, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:10.68, good for five points for NJIT.  Freshman Sarah Morgan placed 12th.

NJIT’s Alisa Scivetti and Alyssa Mitchko went 1-2 in the women’s javelin, recording marks of 36.20m and 35.44m, respectively.

Sophomore Kiersten Chesonis was the Highlanders top finisher in the women’s discus with a distance of 32.12m, good for fourth place.

In the women’s 4×100 meter relay, which consisted of Ayanna Garrett, Elisabeth Paulina, Roche and Cristina De Cristofaro, the Highlanders took second with a time of 51.44.