On Feb. 21 and 22, the men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to New York City for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship meet. The women’s team finished second behind Quinnipiac, while the men’s team won its first MAAC Championship in program history.
Freshman Gavin Alvarez described the team’s mentality to win and bounce back after finishing seventh at the MAAC Championship last year.
“We wanted it more than anyone else, and we took it,” said Alvarez. “I wanted this for the seniors, especially, because they were very big in our success.”
championship in New York.
Source: Contributed by Gavin Alvarez, ’29
Alvarez won the 200m with a time of 21.72 seconds. Junior Colin Brown finished second in 21.73 seconds, adding eight more points for the Pios. Freshman Ian Crowley placed second in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.24 seconds.
The Pioneers secured the title with a second-place finish in the 4x400m relay, where Alvarez ran alongside Brown and graduate students Rafael Mahario and Lance Hayes. Alvarez also secured the award for the MAAC Championship Rookie of the Meet.
“Gavin has made an early and major impact on the program with his talent, positive attitude, and work ethic,” said men’s track and field head coach Christian Morrison. “He, and some of our other young guys, were the added ingredient we needed to win this season.”
A few days after the championship, Morrison was named MAAC Men’s Coach of the Year, his 21st Division I Coach of the Year award. Alvarez highlighted how Morrison was flexible and supportive of the men, guiding them to victory.
“I think with his win, he’s shining a new light on the team,” said women’s junior captain Ariyana Jackson. “Coming in as the underdogs and now champions, this win is a huge statement.”
On the women’s side, Jackson scored 10 points in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.75 seconds.
“I was so nervous before my event, my whole body was shaking,” said Jackson. “But I was like, no, you want this. If you want to rewrite your story, then you’re going to take this moment. You’re going to do it.”
Jackson got help from her teammates as fellow sophomore sprinter Nyahingiva Musa finished second in the 60m, and graduate student Jenna Engels captured first place in the pole vault.
In the field, sophomore Suzan Adekunle scored 18 points, finishing first in the weight throw on day one and second in the shot put on day two. Adekunle also took home the award for the MAAC Championship Field Most Outstanding Performer.
“I had a rough start to the season, so it definitely meant a lot winning the award,” said Adekunle. “Standing on the podium was a surreal feeling, and it felt good knowing that all that hard work paid off.”
Jackson encouraged Adekunle before her events, reminding her that she knew what she was capable of and how much she meant to the team.
“We’re here to win,” said Adekunle. “We hope that this winning tradition continues for years to come and into the outdoor season.”
