EMMITSBURG, MD- Jordan O'Neill would highlight day one as the Rider University women's track and field team opened action at the 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Outdoor Championships on Saturday at Morgan Track at Mount St. Mary's University. After the first day of competition, the Broncs sit first on the women's side with 69 points overall.

O'Neill would pick up the Broncs' lone gold medal on the first day of MAACs as she would win the 10,000m with an ECAC/IC4A qualifying mark of 36:26.64. The first-place finish is also a new PR for O'Neill who would win the 10k after finishing 7th at MAACs in 2022.

Grace Ramsey was excellent for Rider in the Javelin finishing second with an ECAC/IC4A qualifying mark of 41.69m. Ramsey follows her 3rd place finish last year at MAACs with a 2nd place finish in 2023 while also hitting a new season-best mark for the Schwenksville native. Savanna Marcantonio would also have a strong showing finishing 3rd with a 39.07m mark.

The Broncs would also score major points in the long jump as Mariah Stephens would take second overall with a 5.67m mark. For Stephens, the 2nd place finish is her best MAAC Championship performance since the 2022 outdoor season where she would win the Long Jump and Triple Jump at the 2022 MAAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Broncs would also see Alejandra Bartutis finish 4th with a 5.40m mark and Lynaisha Smith finish 6th with a 5.39m mark.

Samantha Kamara would help add points for Rider finishing 4th in the Hammer Throw with a 49.47m throw. 

On top of a win from O'Neill elsewhere on the track, Rider would qualify 15 runners for final events tomorrow in Emmitsburg. 

QUOTES AND NOTES
"The women had a really nice day today with many highlights and strong performances in the field events to push us to the lead today." - Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer

"Stephens jumped to a second-place finish in the long jump to lead four women to scoring positions. It was a big event for us. Stephens is a big-time MAAC performer for us and she showed that again today." - Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer 

"Ramsey had a big throw in the javelin to finish second and lead four women to scoring positions today. It was great to see her have a big throw in this moment. "- Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer

"O'Neill was great today in winning the 10k. She battled hard with 5 laps to go to stay in it and she was able to talk herself through the tough parts. She was running on a lot of emotion over the last 2 laps to secure the victory. "- Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer

"We are excited about the position that we are in after day one and we are looking to build on this momentum moving forward.  "- Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer