MINNEAPOLIS – Sophomore
Joshua Mather won the javelin title to give Rutgers track and field its third gold medal at the 2022 Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Sunday in Minneapolis, Minn. The Scarlet Knights captured a total of 14 podium finishes on the weekend.
Mather, along with
A'nan Bridgett and
Chloe Timberg earned First Team All-Big Ten honors for their victories in the javelin, long jump and pole vault, respectively.
"Although we didn't get the point total we were after, this was our strongest performance," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
Bobby Farrell. "We set two records, got three golds, made the most finals, doubled our podium finishes and tripled the number of times we placed in the top 15.
"We had some athletes really step up and do big things. If one thing didn't go as we liked, another person picked it up in their place. This team is learning fast. The team chemistry this weekend was fantastic, they are really coming together, and we return nearly everyone. With a very strong class coming in, this team knows more than ever now how well we can do next year. The coaches are doing a great job developing and we're a factor now in any event. New Jersey is the best of the best with talent and we're going to win this meet one day."
Mather, who won silver in his debut at the 2021 championships, capped a successful weekend for the Scarlet Knights as he took first with a throw of 68.16m (223' 7").
Steve Coponi recorded a throw of 62.16m (203' 11") to add to the point total.
On the track,
Billy Hill placed fifth in the 1,500-meter run, while
Nadale Buntin took seventh in the 200-meter. Rutgers also received scoring from three relay groups in the men's 4x400, and the women's 4x100 and 4x400. In the men's 4x400, Buntin joined
Micah Wood,
Jameson Woodell and
Taj Burgess to finish fifth with a time of 3:11.06.
The women's 4x100 was comprised of
Sydney Hawkins,
Shanelle Colmon,
Ajae Alvarez-Tyler and
Icisys Sadler with the group running 45.12 to place fifth. Alvarez-Tyler joined
Charlee Crawford,
Shelby Whetstone and
Reanda Richards in the 4x400 to finish sixth with a time of 3:40.06.
A pair of podium finishes in the men's and women's throws helped close out the scoring for the Scarlet Knights as
Kyle Lipscomb placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 54.44m (178' 7") and
Jasmine Van Note took eighth in the shot put with a distance of 16.28m (53' 5").
The men's squad collected 38 points to finish 10th in a field of 13 teams, while the women totaled 25 points to place 12th in a 13-team field.
2022 Big Ten Outdoor Championships – Results
Javelin – Men
1.
Joshua Mather 68.16m (223' 7")
5.
Steve Coponi 62.16m (203' 11")
Long Jump – Men
1.
A'nan Bridgett 7.89m (25' 10.75")
6.
Sincere Robinson 7.47m (24' 6.25")
Discus – Men
8.
Kyle Lipscomb 54.44m (178' 7")
1,500M – Men
5.
Billy Hill 3:53.50
200M – Men
7.
Nadale Buntin 20.92
4x400 Relay – Men
5.
Nadale Buntin,
Micah Wood
Jameson Woodell,
Taj Burgess 3:11.06
400M Hurdles (Prelims) – Men SCHOOL RECORD
Jameson Woodell 50.52
Pole Vault – Women
1.
Chloe Timberg 4.28m (14' 0.5")
Javelin – Women
4.
Alexa Gardner 48.08m (157' 9")
8.
Emilie Ghalam 39.68m (130' 2")
4x100 Relay – Women
5.
Sydney Hawkins,
Shanelle Colmon
Ajae Alvarez-Tyler,
Icisys Sadler 45.12
4x400 Relay – Women
6.
Charlee Crawford,
Shelby Whetstone
Ajae Alvarez-Tyler,
Reanda Richards 3:40.06
Shot Put – Women SCHOOL RECORD
8.
Jasmine Van Note 16.28m (53' 5")
