MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University track program hit another first on Friday, as the Gyrene women earned their first team title in program history at the STU Spring Break Battle, held on the St. Thomas University campus. The Gyrenes tied for first place with host St. Thomas, with both schools finishing the meet with 56 points. The AMU men placed fourth in the event, with both genders producing multiple medalists.

The Gyrene women were led by three top finishers on Friday. Emma Perreault crossed first in the 800 meter race, crossing the finish line at 2:27.80, just under three seconds ahead of teammate and silver medalist Carol Long. Theresa Long earned the individual title with a 4:47.75 in the 1500 meter race, a time good for fourth fastest in the nation so far this season. Felicity Foxhoven also earned a medal in the 1500 meters, finishing third at 5:06.66.

Ave Maria's third win was provided by the 4x400 meter relay team, an event where AMU finished 1-2. The Gyrene quartet of Abigail Rall, Abbey Phibbs, Carol Long, and Theresa Long placed first at 4:17.95, while the team of Emma Perreault, Madison Thomas, Regina Pirolli, and Felicity Foxhoven placed second at 4:31.41.

One of AMU's silver medalists also made some program history. Freshman Caitlyn O'Brien finished second in the long jump, placing only behind a former Division I jumper from San Jose State. O'Brien's mark of 5.78 meters was the longest jump by any NAIA athlete during the outdoor season to date, and hit the NAIA's "A" standard mark, putting O'Brien on a collision course with the NAIA Championships in Indiana in May.

On the men's side, the best AMU performance came in the 1500 meters, where the Gyrenes swept the podium. Adam Paga broke the four-minute mark at 3:59.58, while Samuel Paga and Joseph Perreault came in behind him with times of 4:04.35 and 4:06.21, respectively. Adam Paga's time in the 1500 meters currently ranks eighth in the nation. 

AMU's top three in the 1500 meters also earned silver medals in the 4x400 meter relay, as the 1500 trio and Zachary Dale finished second with a time of 3:29.30. AMU also earned top three finishes in the 400 meters (Emmanuel Consbruck), 3000 meters (Christopher Hermann and John Halvorsen) and the javelin (Dominic Morgan and Owen Campione).

The Gyrenes have two more events on the schedule before The Sun Conference Championships in Daytona Beach in just over a month. The first of those meets will see the Gyrenes travel to Daytona Beach, competing in the ERAU Spike Classic on the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Volusia County. Action is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 31, and will continue into the following day.