NEW YORK, N.Y., January 14, 2023 – Karim Belmahdi opened the 2023 indoor season with a bang, re-setting his own indoor mile program record as the Monroe College Mustangs men's track and field team opened the new season at the TCNJ Lions Indoor Invitational at The Armory on Saturday.
 
Belmahdi previously set the Monroe College mile run record at the 2022 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 4:12.75, his last run of the 2022 indoor season. He opens the 2023 season by beating that mark with a time of 4:11.67 on Saturday, which placed him second out of 54 runners in the event. Belmahdi's time also qualified him for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the event, and currently has him ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA in the mile run.
 
Prince Mcabelo also punched his ticket to the NJCAA Championship meet on Saturday. In the 600-meter run, he clocked in at 1:20.05 to pick up first place overall and surpass the NJCAA qualifying standard. Leroy Chapman nearly hit the qualifying mark with a time of 1:23.38 in the event. Jonathan Hackshaw ran a time of 1:24.89, while Wayne Stephenson clocked in at 1:25.41.
 
Thomas Strouble and Zion Julien made their collegiate debuts in the 60-meter dash, taking first and second place, respectively. Strouble clocked in at 7.34 seconds, while Julien was close behind at 7.45.
 
David Joseph ran his first 60-meter hurdles event on Saturday. He logged a time of 9.37 seconds in the event.
 
Robensky Duffault and Strouble both ran in the 200-meter dash on Saturday. Duffault finished his first-ever collegiate 200m in 23.10, while Strouble's 200m debut saw him clock in at 23.71.
 
Kiron O'garro and Vadley Sylvester each ran in the 300-meter dash for the first time as a Mustang on Saturday. They placed third and fourth, respectively, with respective times of 36.56 and 36.57.
 
Three Mustangs ran in Saturday's 400-meter dash. Jaheim Dotson took fourth place at 51.09 seconds. Akeerie McFarlane was next with a time of 51.82 to take seventh overall. Javon Soiro registered a time of 53.21 seconds.
 
Ethanael Elliott ran the 800-meter run on Saturday, finishing in 2:16.79.
 
Julien later competed in the men's long jump event. He registered a jump of 5.88 meters.
 
Monroe finished the day with the 4x400 relay with two different squads competing in the race. The foursome of O'Garro, Chapman, Mcabelo and Sylvester finished third overall with a time of 3:24.14. The group of Soiro, McFarlane, Duffault and Hackshaw took sixth place at 3:29.59.
 
The Mustangs are back in action on Friday, Jan. 20, when they head out to Staten Island for the Gotham Cup at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. Friday's meet is set to begin at 11 a.m.
 
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 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 11 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).