GLASSBORO, NJ – Three Rowan University runners qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Track and Field Championships on Thursday-Saturday, May 27-29. The meet is being held at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH.

Jenn Rawls (fr. Runnemede, NJ/Highland Reg.) will run in the 5000 meters. Jena Peacock (so. Williamstown, NJ/Our Lady of Mercy) is going to compete in the 3000 meter steeplechase, while Tiffany Chamberlain (fr. Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.) qualified in the 400 meter hurdles. 

The trials for the 400 meter hurdles are on Thursday, May 27 at 5 p.m., while the finals are on Saturday, May 29 at 3:15 p.m. The 3000 meter steeplechase is on Friday, May 28 at 5:45 p.m. The 5000 meters starts at 3:55 p.m. on Saturday.

“This is really step one of what I think athletic director Joy Solomen and associate athletic director Dan Gilmore brought me here to do,” said head coach Ringo Adamson. “They are young kids, two freshmen and one sophomore. I think they are going to perform well. This will only lead more talent to the program.”

This season, Rawls ran the second fastest time in Division III in the 5000 meters, with a school record time of 16:41.75 at the Larry Ellis Invitational (Apr. 16). She only competed in the 5000 meters at two other events this year. Rawls won the Wake Forest Open (Mar. 19) in 17:04.38. She captured 19th place at the Penn Relays (Apr. 22) with a time of 16:55.16. The NCAA automatic qualifier is 16:55.00. Rawls was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie of the Week two times. She finished ninth in the 5000 meters at the 2010 NCAA Division III Indoor Track Championships (Mar. 13) with a time of 17:14.01.

“Jenn is like a tuned up race car,” stated Adamson. “You have to know when to race her so she does not break down. Jenn stands a very good chance of making All-American.”

Peacock ranks 15th among the participants in the 3000 meter steeplechase. She broke the University mark at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships (May 13) with a time of 10:53.72. Peacock was the individual winner at the Penn Invitational (Apr. 3), 11:00.00, Rowan Open (Apr. 9), 11:15.06, NJAC Championships (May 8), 11:20.48, and the Swarthmore Last Chance Meet (May 10), 11:01.43. She placed second at the Lions’ Last Chance Meet (May 20) in 11:00.51. Peacock came in third at the Wake Forest Open (Mar. 20) and 13th at the Penn Relays (Apr. 22) with times of 11:06.74 and 11:00.44 respectively. The NCAA provisional in the 3000 meter steeplechase is 11:13.00. Peacock earned NJAC All-Conference first team honors. She was selected the NJAC Track Athlete of the Week four times this season.

“Jena is like a Mack truck,” commented Adamson. “She is just tough. If she runs smart on Friday, she can make All-American. Jena is running one of the hardest races on the track, the steeplechase.”

Chamberlain has the sixth best time among the qualifiers in the 400 meter hurdles. She set a new school record with a fourth place finish at the Lions’ Last Chance Meet (May 20) with a time of 1:02.47. The NCAA provisional is 1:04.20. Chamberlain had first places at the Rowan Open (Apr. 9), 1:08.92, Collegiate Track Conference (CTC) Championships (Apr. 18), 1:04.66 and NJAC Championships (May 8), 1:04.77. She captured fourth at the Towson Invitational (Mar. 27), Penn Invitational (Apr. 3) and Swarthmore Last Chance Meet (May 10) with times of 1:03.50, 1:03.40 and 1:03.60 respectively. Chamberlain was sixth at the ECAC Championships (May 14), 1:04.08, 11th at the Wake Forest Open (Mar. 20), 1:04.85 and 42nd at the Penn Relays (Apr. 22), 1:03.66. She collected NJAC All-Conference first team honors. Chamberlain was chosen the NJAC Rookie of the Week once this year.

“Tiffany has improved a whole lot this season,” praised Adamson. “She dropped her time by over five seconds. That can be attributing to her work ethic and assistant coach Norm Tate working with her.”

For the complete schedule of events and results visit: http://www.bw.edu/athletics/10tracknationals/.