Track and Field 2020-21 Season in Review

The Rutgers track and field program continued its pursuit of excellence this season in the classroom and in competition. The Scarlet Knights collected numerous accolades from All-America honors to Academic All-Big Ten recognition, breaking multiple school records along the way. RU highlights some of the top moments from the year. 

ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES

• Taj Burgess - 400M Indoor and 400M Outdoor
• Perry Christie - High Jump Indoor
• A’nan Bridgett - Long Jump Outdoor

BIG TEN MEDALS AND ALL-BIG TEN HONORS

• Perry Christie – CHAMPION, Indoor High Jump & First Team All-Big Ten
• Courteney Campbell – Silver Medal, Indoor High Jump & Second Team All-Big Ten
• Alivia Ash – Silver Medal, Outdoor High Jump & Second Team All-Big Ten
• Joshua Mather – Silver Medal, Javelin & Second Team All-Big Ten
• Taj Burgess – Bronze Medal, Indoor 400m
• Ka’Leila Abrielle – Bronze Medal, Indoor Pole Vault

OUTDOOR NCAA QUALIFIERS

• Courteney Campbell (High Jump)
• Alivia Ash (High Jump)
• Claudine Smith (Triple Jump)
• Alexa Gardner (Javelin Throw)
• Taj Burgess (200m, 400m, 4x100m)
• Perry Christie (High Jump)
• A'nan Bridgett (Long Jump, 4x100m)
• Adam Hunt (Discus Throw)
• Joshua Mather (Javelin Throw)
• Steve Coponi (Javelin Throw)
• Louis Akpadago (4x100m)
• Adebowale Smith (4x100m)

INDOOR NCAA QUALIFIERS

• Taj Burgess (400m)
• Perry Christie (High Jump)

Following his Big Ten Indoor Title in the high jump, Perry Christie was named the NCAA DI Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). He cleared a height of 2.18m (7' 1.75") to outpace the second-place jumper by two and three-quarter inches. Christie, who owns the school record in the event at 2.23m, added a gold medal to his bronze finish in the high jump at the 2020 Big Ten Indoor Championships. 

NEW SCHOOL RECORDS

• Men’s Indoor Mile – Billy Hill, 4:02.11
• Women’s Indoor Shot Put – Jasmine Van Note, 15.35m (50’ 4.5”)
• Women's Outdoor Shot Put - Jasmine Van Note, 15.26m (50' 0.75")
• Women’s Indoor Pole Vault –  Ka’Leila Abrille, 4.20m (13’ 9.25”)
• Women’s Outdoor Pole Vault – Ka’Leila Abrille, 3.80m (12’ 5.5”)
• Women’s 3,000M Steeplechase – Lou Mialhe, 10:30.99
• Men’s Outdoor 4x100m – Nadale Buntin, Taj Burgess, A’nan Bridgett, Louis Akpadago, 39.80
• Women's Outdoor High Jump - Courteney Campbell, 1.79m (5' 10.5")

BIG TEN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

• Olympia Martin (Cross Country)
• Patrick Walsh (Cross Country)
• Perry Christie (Indoor)
• Jasmine Van Note (Indoor)
• Andrew Comito (Outdoor)
• Lou Mialhe (Outdoor)

BIG TEN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS

Men's Cross Country

• Hamza Barkouch
• Billy Hill
• Thomas Hillyer
• Nicholas Hutchison
• Ryan Mitchell
• Patrick Walsh

Women's Cross Country

• Sara Gutter
• Olympia Martin
• Kiera Nealon
• Mackenzie Prezume
• Brooke Riedy

Men's Track & Field

• Andrew Comito
• Christopher Jenkins
• Tyler Kelly
• Atharv Kulkarni
• Joshua Mather
• Adebowale Smith
• Christopher Smith

Women's Track & Field

• Ajae Alvarez-Tyler
• Kathryn Campbell
• Dakota Gerges
• Iyanla Kollock
• Stephanie Mauer
• Lou Mialhe
• Gabriela Sanchez
• Claudine Smith