BOSTON — A historic medal, several qualifying performances, and a number of other solid efforts highlighted the opening day of the America East Indoor Championships for the NJIT track and field program Monday evening at The Track at New Balance.

A PROGRAM FIRST
The quartet of Nadia Zhecheva, Grace Burke, Jenna Keith, and Sarah Van Ornum earned bronze in the Distance Medley Relay in a school record time of 11:57.87. The bronze is NJIT's first-ever America East medal in any distance event (indoor or outdoor) and the group joins teammate Maddie Stevens (2023 silver, 400m) to account for the Highlanders' first five women's medalists in AE history.

ONTO THE FINALS
A number of Highlanders clinched spots in Tuesday finals with their performances on Monday.

• Damon Dukes, Jr. in the 60 meters (6.89+; new school record) and 200 meters (21.70+)
• Jacob Leigh in the 200 meters (22.04)
• Nia Holloway in the 60 meters (7.70+; new school record)
• Maddie Stevens in the 400 meters (56.53)
• Hayley Lucido (1:16.67+) and Sanai Jenkins (1:17.43) in the 500 meters

SCORING PERFORMANCES
 

EVENT	ATHLETE	TIME/MARK	PLACE	PTS	SCHOOL RECORD?
Women's DMR	Nadia Zhecheva/Grace Burke/Jenna Keith/Sarah Van Ornum	11:57.87	3rd	6	Yes
Men's DMR	Joseph Mucci/Lossenie Fofana/David Munera/Matthew Morena	10:09.50	6th	3	No
Men's Long Jump	Ryan Nartey	6.72m / 22-0.75+	7th	2	No
Women's Long Jump	Nia Holloway	5.40m / 17-8.75	7th	2	No

+ Personal Record


OTHER PRs

• Lillian Williams in 60 meters (7.81)
• Kimmie Harding in 5000 meters (18:39.50)
• JC Baratta in 200 meters (22.99)
• Andre Henry in 60 meters (7.19)
• Gabriel Truehart in 400 meters (49.21)
• Jaden Dixon in Weight Throw (15.58m / 51-1.50)

UPDATED NJIT ALL-TIME AMERICA EAST INDOORS MEDAL COUNT
 

ATHLETE	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
Jacob Leigh		200m (2023), 4x400 Relay (2023)	High Jump (2023), High Jump (2022), 4x400 Relay (2022)	5
Elisha Bugasch		4x400 Relay (2023)	500m (2023)	2
Matthew Bacchi		4x400 Relay (2023)	4x400 Relay (2022)	2
Eugene Graves III			4x400 Relay (2022)	1
Grace Burke			DMR (2024)	1
Jaden Johnson			Triple Jump (2023)	1
Jenna Keith			DMR (2024)	1
Jordan Lee		4x400 Relay (2023)		1
Maddie Stevens		400m (2023)		1
Nadia Zhecheva			DMR (2024)	1
Sarah Van Ornum			DMR (2024)	1
Thomas Van Saders			4x400 Relay (2022)	1

TUESDAY EVENT SCHEDULE

• 10:00 AM Men's Heptathlon
• 10:00 AM Women's High Jump - Finals
• 10:00 AM Women's Shot Put - Finals
• 10:00 AM Men's Triple Jump - Finals
• 11:50 AM Opening Ceremonies
• 11:55 AM Women's Mile - Final
• 12:10 PM Men's Mile - Final
• 12:25 PM Women's 800m - Final
• 12:35 PM Men's 800m - Final
• 1:00 PM Men's High Jump - Finals
• 1:00 PM Men's Shot Put - Finals
• 1:00 PM Women's Triple Jump - Finals
• 1:00 PM Women's 60 HH - Final
• 1:05 PM Men's 60 HH - Final
• 1:10 PM Women's 60m - Final
• 1:15 PM Men's 60m - Final
• 1:40 PM Women's 400m - Final
• 1:45 PM Men's 400m - Final
• 1:50 PM Women's 500m - Final
• 1:55 PM Men's 500m - Final
• 2:00 PM Women's 1,000m - Final
• 2:10 PM Men's 1,000m - Final
• 2:20 PM Women's 200m - Final
• 2:25 PM Men's 200m - Final
• 2:30 PM Women's 3,000m - Final
• 2:50 PM^ Men's 3,000m - Final
• 3:20 PM^ Women's 4x800m Relay - Final
• 3:30 PM^ Men's 4x800m Relay - Final
• 3:40 PM^ Women's 4x400m Relay - Final
• 3:50 PM^ Men's 4x400m Relay - Final
• Awards Ceremony

^ These are approximate times and will updated based on the number of sections in the men's and women's 3000m

The Heptathlon 1,000m will be added roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Heptathlon Pole Vault