SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Student-athlete Jena Peacock was honored as Rowan University’s Woman of the Year by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women on January 22. The honorees were recognized at a luncheon and at halftime of the Seton Hall University’s women’s basketball game.
The event is held in conjunction with the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. The Woman of the Year award honors the outstanding achievements of female athletes at high schools, two and four-year colleges of New Jersey.
A captain, Peacock (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Our Lady of Mercy Academy) has competed for the Profs’ cross country and track teams for four years. In the fall, she earned All-America honors for the second straight season at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. She came in 19th at the national championships with a time of 21:27.31 over the 6K course. It was the third time Peacock qualified for the NCAAs.
At the 2011 NCAA Atlantic Regional, she took second place in 21:52.5 for her fourth All-Region honor. Peacock finished second (21:37.21) at the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships and earned her fourth All-Conference first team selection. During the season, Peacock was named the NJAC Runner of the Week five times. She was the conference’s Runner of the Year in 2010 and 2009 and the Rookie of the Year in 2008.
Last year, Peacock qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in the 5000 meters. She finished 12th with a time of 18:01.89. In the 3000 meter steeplechase, Peacock competed at the 2011 and 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In 2011, she had a 16th place in 10:56.71. Peacock finished 11th (10:52.58) at the 2010 national championships.
She earned NJAC All-Conference first team honors in the 3000 meter steeplechase twice (2011, 2010) and was on the All-Conference second team once (2009). Peacock received NJAC All-Conference second team honors in the indoor mile run. She was on the 2011 indoor 4x800 meter relay that earned All-Conference honorable mention.
She holds the school mark in the 3000 meter steeplechase (10:52.58). Peacock is also on the Profs’ record setting outdoor 4x800 (9:24.84) and distance medley (12:39.61) relays. In addition, she is a member of the indoor 4x800 (9:35.31) and distance medley (12:15.99) relays that have the University record.
A Rowan Scholar-Athlete, Peacock was named to the 2011 NJAC All-Academic second team. She was also honored on the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III All-Academic Team. Peacock was selected to the 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Cross Country Team. She is a member of the Rowan Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is majoring in elementary education and English.
