Multi-sport Chaparral Teegan Roach capped her two-year career with her finest moment, winning the NJCAA Division III Track and Field Championship hammer throw on her final attempt at COD grabbed the team lead after the first day of competition Thursday in Utica, N.Y.
 
Roach won the event with a throw of 39.22 meters (128 feet, 8 inches), winning by nearly three feet over Alexis Walker of Mineral Area, Mo.
 
Roach, who also played two seasons of basketball, was in sixth place at 36.23 m (118-10) after five attempts when she stepped into the ring on her final throw and ripped the chain and ball for a personal best and the individual title.
 
Teammate Ellie Connor placed seventh in the event as COD took charge in the team portion, scoring 40 points on the opening day and securing a nine-point lead over Harper through five of 22 events.
 
The Chaps' 4 x 800 team of Alison Pasdiora, Samantha Blankenship, Maureen Bluemle, and All-American Carmen Solis won in 10 minutes, 49.71 seconds in an event that is only run at the NJCAAs. The Chaps won by nearly two seconds and trailed by six seconds when Solis received the baton for the final 800 m.
 
Solis, who is the top individual 800 m runner, took complete charge and ran a 2:24.89 split to help COD overcome Joliet JC's lead and earn the victory.
 
In the 10,000 meters, COD secured 13 team points when Pasdiora placed third, Bianca Nunez fifth and Blakenship sixth.
 
Finishing COD's scoring Thursday was Ella Kud's fourth-place showing in the pole vault.
 
NJCAA Division III Track and Field Championship
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Mohawk Valley CC | Utica, N.Y.
Team (through five of 22 events): 1 Chaparrals 40, 2 Harper 31, 3 RC Gloucester 19.5, 4 Hudson Valley 10, 4 Suffolk 10.
 
Chaparrals (all finals)
4 x 800 relay — 1 10:49.71 (Alison Pasdiora, Samantha Blankenship, Maureen Bluemle, Carmen Solis)
10,000 — 3 Alison Pasdiora 46:21.76, 5 Bianca Nunez 48:46.22, 6 Samantha Blankenship 49:19.50
Pole vault — 4 Ella Kud 2.22 m (7-3 ¼)
Hammer — 1 Teegan Roach 39.22 m (128-8), 7 Ellie Connor 33.75 (110-8), 15 Olivia Warmke 19.01 (62-4)