JWU Takes Home 2025 GNAC Track and Field Title

STANDISH, Maine - Johnson & Wales scored 177 points across two days at the 2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championship, hosted by Saint Joseph's (Maine) in Standish, Maine to claim this year's championship on the women's side. 

JWU was strong in both track and field events with their track performance being highlighted by Lulani Haslinger, who took the top spot in three events for the Wildcats in the 1500 (5:06.34), 5K (18:52.55), and the 3K steeplechase (12:20.70). In the field events, the Wildcats seen three student-athletes collect first-place honors as Melissa Charles toook first in the Pole Vault (2.60m), Erika Sanders in the Shot Put (10.87m), and Lena Nicholson in the Discus Throw (30.72m).

Emmanuel wasn't far behind as they finished as the runner-up with 152 points, collecting points in a few track events. Caroline Carey headlined the Saints on the track as she was the top finisher in the 100m (12.77s), 200m (26.14s) and was a part of a winning 4x100 medley relay team (51.10s), which featured Carey, Reilly Slusser, Donna Gauvin, and Olivia Costa. That wasn't the only relay Emmanuel finished at the top in as the 4x800 relay team (9:59.96) of Desiree Robinson, Kendall Newton, Aida Davis, and Sydney Gonzalez earned points for the Saints on the track. Robinson earned more points for her team in the field, collecting three first-place finishes in the High Jump (1.51m), Long Jump (4.87m), and the Triple Jump (10.80m).

Host Saint Joseph's (Maine) was the third-place finisher with 136 points as they collected a couple of first-place finishes from Ava Smart (400m - 1:00.35), Audrey Bilodeau (400h - 1:09.95), 4x400 relay (Smart, Bella Koepsell, Alexia Young, and Cheri Willems) and Ellie Leech in the Javelin Throw (38.47m).

Colby-Sawyer finished fourth with 62 points with two gold medal finishes from Adriana Nadeau in the 10k (39:12.50) and Lila Brillhart in the 100h with a 15.36 time.

Regis placed fifth with 46 points as Aubrey Heise collected a first-place finish in the 800 meters (2:27.27).

Lasell collected 25 points while Simmons collected 17 points, including a first-place finish in the Hammer Throw with a 39.52 meter mark.

All the individual champions, along with the other two medalists in each event (teams in relays) were named to the GNAC All-Conference Team as the major award winners will be voted on by the league's head coaches and announced at a later time to be determined.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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