RAVEN ORANGE CAPTURES NATIONAL TITLE IN 400M HURDLES IN FANTASTIC SHOWING FOR MIDDLESEX COLLEGE
Raven Orange capped a dominant freshman season by capturing a National Title in the 400 Meter Hurdles at the NJCAA Division III National Track Meet at Troy, New York.
Orange, a freshman from Carteret, New Jersey, did not lose a race all season in the event and also placed fourth overall in the 100 Meter Hurdles.
Under the leadership of first-year Head Coach Reggie James, Middlesex College also sent four other runners to the National Meet and all finished in the top 15 of their respective events with each setting a personal best.
On the meet's first day, Orange ran a 1:10.17 in the 400 Meter Hurdles, which was the second fastest time behind Grace Briscoe from St. Charles CC in Missouri. However, in the finals, Orange bested Briscoe in the rematch. Orange also placed fourth nationally in the 100 Meter Hurdles.
Orange wasn't the only Middlesex athlete making headlines at the event.
On Day 1 of the event, Matthew Sutton (Freshman/Lakewood, NJ) came into the triple jump as the 19th ranked athlete in the field. He jumped a personal-best 39' 11.5" to move up ten spots, placing 9th nationally.
Sutton wasn't the only Colt to make a significant jump on the biggest stage of the sport. Gilana Rincon (Freshman/Piscataway, NJ) entered the meet ranked 25th in the 1500 Meters and improved 12 spots to finish 13th. She also finished 9th in the 800 Meters.
Angelo Boetton (Freshman/Highland Park, NJ) found a spot on the podium when he placed sixth in the 1500 Meters. He also placed ninth in the 800 Meters.
Axel Romero (Freshman/Somerset, NJ) also ran well for Middlesex College finishing ninth with a personal best 1:02.72 in the 400 Meter Hurdles.