HUTCHINSON, Kan., May 20, 2022 – Four Mustangs earned spots in the finals of their respective events, while one also reached the podium later on in what was a solid Day 2 of the 2022 NJCAA Div. I Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the Monroe College Mustangs track and field team on Friday at Gowans Stadium.
 
Tshwanelo Maruping made two big splashes at the national meet on Friday. She closed out the day by taking fourth place overall in the 3000-meter steeplechase, clocking in at 11:46.25. The fourth-place finish out of 18 competitors earns her the distinction of All-American from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
Maruping was joined earlier in the day by Aaliyah Moore in the 1,500-meter run preliminaries. Both women qualified for Saturday's finals of the event. Maruping clocked in at 4:59.26 in Heat 1 to earn her spot, while Moore won Heat 2 with a relaxed time of 5:08.71 to secure her place in the finals as well.
 
Moore was busy later in the day as well. She and Farrah Miller both ran in the preliminaries of the 800-meter run. Miller was the top qualifier with a time of 2:14.58, while Moore had the third-fastest time at 2:16.05.
 
Chinenye Onuorah ran in the 200-meter dash preliminary round on Friday. She clocked in at 24.99 seconds, a season-best time for the freshman.
 
The Mustang women have the finals of three events on the docket for Saturday, the final day of the NJCAA Outdoor Championships. Moore and Maruping will open the day at 1:50 p.m. EST in the 1500m finals. Onuorah will then compete in the 400m finals at 2:10 p.m. EST. Finally, Miller and Moore will close out the weekend with the 800m finals at 2:45 p.m. EST.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 14 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).