A Look Back: 2019-20 Indoor Track and Field

Mar 27

Rutgers men’s and women’s track and field saw its indoor seasons come to an abrupt end hours before three Scarlet Knights were set to compete at the NCAA Championships. Junior Taj Burgess (400m), junior Courteney Campbell (High Jump), and senior Perry Christie (High Jump) were poised to embark on their first trips to the indoor national championships, however, growing concerns of the COVID-19 health crisis caused the cancellation of all remaining winter and spring NCAA Championships.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances that prevented the Scarlet Knights from putting an exclamation point on an otherwise outstanding season, the Rutgers men’s and women’s track and field programs had several reasons to celebrate the indoor season.

Burgess kicked off the year in record-setting fashion as he ran the second-fastest time in NCAA history in the 500-meter, also establishing a school record. The TCNJ Lions Indoor Invitational was a momentum builder for the Scarlet Knights, who picked up 20 event wins, including 38 performances in the top-three.

“This year was a big year for Rutgers track and field," said Burgess. "With so many returners and new additions, I knew this year was going to be something greater than ever. The energy the team brought to every meet was better than ever. With big PRs and school records, I could not have been prouder of our team.”

A week later, a pair of school-record performances were turned in on the women’s side as Campbell and freshman Claudine Smith etched their names in the Rutgers record books. Campbell set a program record in the high jump at the Vanderbilt Invitational with a mark of 1.80m (5’ 10.75”), while Smith posted a school record in the triple jump with a distance of 12.68m (41’ 7.25”).

Courteney Campbell, school record holder in the high jump.

Claudine Smith, school record holder in the triple jump.

Burgess eclipsed his school record time in the 500-meter the following week at the John Thomas Terrier Classic, again running the second-fastest time in NCAA history. Burgess placed first in the event with a time of 1:00.73, besting his previous record time of 1:00.80.

The men’s squad captured its sixth-consecutive Metropolitan Indoor Championship, while the women posted a top-three team finish for the third-straight season. The Scarlet Knights combined for 14 event titles and 31 top-three performances. Rutgers finished 1-2-3 in the mile for the second time on the season as freshman Billy Hill (4:12.75), junior Patrick Walsh (4:13.43) and senior Cole Pschunder (4:14.90) combined for the feat.

“We had three NCAA qualifiers, which might have been the most we had in Rutgers history," said Burgess. "That shows that there is the potential to bring more depth to these big events. Reaching Indoor Nationals was one of the biggest accomplishments I’ve had.”

Perry Christie became the fourth Scarlet Knight to set a school record during the 2019-20 indoor season.

Christie clinched the fourth Rutgers record of the season with his performance at the Meyo Invitational on the campus of Notre Dame. He cleared a height of 2.23m (7' 3.75") to win the event and establish a school record. Christie carried that momentum into the Big Ten Championships where he claimed a bronze medal in the high jump to highlight five podium finishes for the Scarlet Knights.

“Making it to nationals has been a goal of mine since I came to Rutgers," said Christie. "To finally do it after four years of trials and tribulations was all worth it. All the work that I put in during the summers and fall wasn’t for nothing. Next year’s goals are only bigger, so back to the lab.”

Campbell, the Scarlet Knights' third qualifier for the Indoor NCAA Championships, shared the excitement of advancing to the meet and despite being unable to compete will use the accomplishment as fuel for her return next season.

“Making NCAA’s was a huge honor and showed me that I can do anything as long as I believe in myself," said Campbell. "I was devastated that I couldn’t compete, but it is only motivating me to work harder for next season to be even better.”

“We made a lot of memories and one that stood out was at Notre Dame when Boaz Madeus made his return to the track,” said Christie. “We all were so ecstatic to see our teammate return from his tragic injury. Some tears were shed, and an everlasting team bond was formed. This indoor season had some ups and downs but, overall I would say this was the best season as a team we ever had since I have been here. It’s tragic how a good thing can come to an end so quick, but it will only make us stronger mentally and physically next year.”

The IC4A and ECAC Indoor Championships would serve as the final competitions of the 2019-20 indoor season with the cancellation of the NCAA Championships. Several Scarlet Knights turned in top-five finishes, including a pair of victories in the long jump and distance medley relay.

Qayyim Ali won the long jump with a distance of 7.33m (24’ .75”), while the distance medley relay team of Pschunder, Walsh, sophomore Boaz Madeus and senior Jason Schweizer added the second event title of the weekend with their winning time of 9:54.97. The 4x800 meter relay with the team of Hill, seniors Sean Martinek and Jared Skalski and junior Eric Barnes ran a time of 7:31.12 to finish runner-up in the event.

Sophomore Reanda Richards scored on the women's side, recording a second-place finish in the 500 meter, with a time of 1:11.73. The distance medley team finished second with sophomore Kayla Rosario, junior Kayla Jackson, sophomore Mackenzie Prezume and junior Kiera Nealon combining for a time of 11:48.11. Sophomore Jasmine Van Note placed third in the shot put with a throw of 14.58m (47' 10") to add to the scoring total for the women's team.