CHAMPIONS! Women's Track & Field Claims First-Ever America East Indoor Title

BOSTON -- The UMBC women's indoor track & field team captured its first America East Indoor Championship with a spectacular showing at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Retrievers, who totaled 163 points, bested second-place UAlbany (143 points), and third-place Bryant (116.83) to hoist the championship trophy for the very first time.

UMBC was named the Coaching Staff of the Year, and sophomore Katie Schwaner earned both the Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet Award and the America East Coaches Award after winning the conference championship in the 800 meters (2:09.91) and adding a silver medal in the 1,000 meters (2:49.95). She was also a member of the Retrievers' 4 x 800 relay team, which finished runner-up in 9:05.08.

UMBC's 4 x 400 relay squad put together a gold medal performance with a meet record time of 3:44.12. Freshman Lily Bandy, junior Dalyce Schmidt, senior Leanne McDonald, and sophomore Anna Creel put their names in the conference record book.

Freshman sensation Enazajah Young was named the Most Outstanding Rookie and struck gold in the 60-meter hurdles (sschool record 8.31) and added a silver in the 60-meter dash (7.51).

Creel won the gold medal in the 200 meters (24.20) while junior Lyna Beraich took home the mile crown (4:50.29). UMBC's final gold medal came in the shot put as senior Ava Roberts easily took the event with an effort of 14.93 meters (48-11.75). Roberts also placed third in the weight throw (18.01 meters, 59-01.25).

McDonald was the runner-up in the 400 meters (55.96) while junior Dalyce Schmidt came home with a bronze in the event with a time of 56.30.

Freshman Winter Evans was the runner-up to Young in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.52.
Lilly Norcross added a bronze medal in the 800 meters as she crossed the line in 2:12.64.

The Retrievers also received silver-medal performances from their 4 x 800 (9:05.08) and distance medley relay (11:42.20) squads. Junior Katelyn Deal, sophomore Lydia Nelson, Norcross, and Schwaner comprised the 4 x 400 team while Beraich, Deal, senior Lily Strelecki, and sophomore Faith Akinlami powered the distance medley squad.

Other top-10 performances were turned in by: Bandy (6th, 60 meters, 7.70) and 5th, 200 meters, 24.58), freshman Madisyn Bobb, (4th, 200 meters, 24.49), freshman Jayda Solomon (200 meters, 6th, 24.74), Deal (800 meters, 8th, 2:16.53), Norcross (1,000 meters, 7th, 2:53.45), Beraich (3,000 meters, 8th, 9:46.50), Evans (high jump, 6th, 1.60 meters, 5-03.00), sophomore Janine Amedia (4th, triple jump, 11.95 meters, 39-02.50), senior Marie Abongwa (5th, shot put, 13.45 meters, 44-01.50) and weight throw (4th,17.48 meters, 57-04.25), senior Chia Nwankwo (shot put, 12.95 meters, 42-06.00), freshman Aryanna Ebanks (shot put, 12.38 meters, 40-07.50).

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Players Mentioned

Marie Abongwa: Throws; Senior

Faith Akinlami: Sprints; Sophomore

Lyna Beraich: Mid-Distance; Senior

Anna Creel: Sprints; Sophomore

Katelyn Deal: Mid-Distance; Junior

Leanne McDonald: Sprints; Senior

Lydia Nelson: Distance; Sophomore

Chia Nwankwo: Throws; Graduate Student

Ava Roberts: Throws; Graduate Student

Dalyce Schmidt: Sprints; Junior

Players Mentioned

Marie Abongwa
: Senior
: Throws

Faith Akinlami
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Lyna Beraich
: Senior
: Mid-Distance

Anna Creel
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Katelyn Deal
: Junior
: Mid-Distance

Leanne McDonald
: Senior
: Sprints

Lydia Nelson
: Sophomore
: Distance

Chia Nwankwo
: Graduate Student
: Throws

Ava Roberts
: Graduate Student
: Throws

Dalyce Schmidt
: Junior
: Sprints