Record 4x800 Relay Highlights Monroe Women’s Indoor Track and Field’s Day at John Thomas Terrier Cla

BOSTON, Mass., January 25, 2019 – The 4x800 relay team of Malethabo Seema, Claudrice McKoy, Lethabo Seema and Faten Laribiset a new program record in the event on Friday to highlight a successful day at the John Thomas Terrier Classic, hosted by Boston University. The Mustang foursome ran a time of 9:19.96 to set a new Monroe College record in the 4x800 relay. This time also earned them third place overall, as well as an NJCAA Indoor Championship qualifying time. Laribi, Joanna Archer and Malethabo Seema all earned qualifying times in their first times competing in the 800-meter run this season. Out of 120 competitors, Laribi took 16th at 2:12.97, Archer placed 18th at 2:13.10, and Seema's time of 2:16.21 earned her 28th place. Onassha Rogers competed in the 60-meter dash for the first time this season, finishing the race in 8.06 seconds. Avon Samuels claimed a fourth-place finish out of 113 runners in the 400-meter dash. Her time of 55.63 improved her NJCAA qualifying time for the season as well. Malethabo Seema and Laribi both ran in the 500-meter dash. Seema finished with a time of 1:17.92, while Laribi clocked in at 1:19.73. McKoy competed for the first time this season in the mile run, and immediately qualified for the NJCAA Championships with a personal-best time of 5:17.48. Lethabo Seema ran a time of 5:31.82 in the race. Sharon Chumo earned an NJCAA Indoor Championship qualifying time in the 3,000-meter run, her first time competing in the event at the collegiate level. She finished with a time of 10:19.90, defeating the qualifying standard by 43 seconds. Teaira Edwards competed in both the weight throw and shot put events on Friday. She threw a distance of 13.09 meters in the weight throw and 11.20 meters in the shot put. In the only women's event running on Saturday, the women's distance medley relay, the team of McKoy, Malethabo Seema, Laribi and Chumo ran a time of 12:29.01, earning yet another NJCAA qualifying time. The Mustang men's indoor track and field team will take its turn on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the John Thomas Terrier Classic. The women's team will compete next on Friday, Feb. 8, when they run in the Fastrack National Invitational at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y.