RAVEN ORANGE DEFENDS NATIONAL TITLE, MENS 4X400 TEAM BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD & CAPTURES NATIONAL TITLE OF THEIR OWN

A phenomenal 2023 Track & Field season for Middlesex College was capped in historic fashion as Raven Orange and the Men's 4x400 Relay Team earned National Championships at the NJCAA Division III National Track Meet in Utica, New York.

Orange, the defending National Champion in the 400 Intermediate Hurdles, defended her title by running a 66.08 in the finals.

Prior to nailing down her second National Title, Orange was named the 2023 NJCAA East Region Female Track Athlete of the Year. Orange also finished second overall in the 100m high hurdles with a time of 15.74.

"Raven didn't just win a gold and silver medal today, she PR'd in both events," said Schneekloth. "This speaks to her preparation leading up to the meet. Defending a national title isn't easy, but with her hard work she sure made it look easy."

The 4x400 relay team of Jan Nolasco, Tom Bell, Maurice Hernandez and Jessi Jimenez captured a National Title when Jimenez overtook his competitor in the final stretch to not only clinch the title but set a school record in the process. The team ran a 3:20.59, breaking the Middlesex College school mark of 3:24.90 which has stood since 1974.

"There are some very talented, storied sprint programs in the NJCAA and the Middlesex College 4x400 record was 49 years old," said Schneekloth. "To dominate that race and break this record by over four seconds speaks just to how impressive this performance was."

In addition to the National Championships, Middlesex College also received an incredible effort from Tonna Ogina, who placed third in the high jump (1.54m) and fourth in the triple jump (10.13) to earn All-American status in both events.

"Tonna did a great job in the jumps this weekend," said Schneekloth. "Competing in three events at a national championship is physically and mentally difficult and to medal in two of them shows her resiliency and focus."

The Men's 4x100 relay team of Matt Sutton, Jessi Jimenez, Axel Romero and Tom Bell placed seventh with a time of 43.67.

Josh Ormilon finished eighth in the steeplechase with a time of 11:12.94 and Angelo Botteon placed ninth.

"At national championship meets, when just a second can separate first and last place in any given event, it always comes down to execution," said first-year Head Coach Chuck Schneekloth. "Our student-athletes really executed under pressure this weekend. This was a grueling three-day meet and for all nine of our athletes to walk away with All-American medals says a lot about their maturity and focus."