Mahwah, NJ: Three members of the Ramapo College indoor track and field team have qualified for the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Cheickna Traore, Chris Andersen and Delilah Cruz will represent Ramapo at the NCAA Championships this weekend.
 
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The top 20 declared student-athletes were accepted into the competition based on their top 20 performances during the season. Each institution is responsible for declaring the student-athletes in the events they will compete in before the NCAA announced the field of competition on Sunday evening on ncaasports.com. Top eight finishers earn NCAA All-American honors.
 
Traore qualified in three events in the championships but will compete in two events. While he qualified for three events, Traore opted to compete in the 60m and 200m races.   Traore has the third fastest time (6.80 seconds) in the field of 20 in the 60-meter dash while has the seventh fastest time (21.32 seconds) in the field of 20 in the 200-meter dash, both of which are school records. He holds school records in six indoor events: 60m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 500m and 600m and was recently named G. Larry James Most Outstanding Athlete following the NJAC Indoor Championships where he earned two NJAC crowns (60m & 200m). This is Traore's first opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in his career. He will compete in the prelims of both events on Friday afternoon with about an hour between each race. If Traore advances, he will compete in the finals Saturday afternoon. ""My main focus heading into NCAA's is simply executing my race plan. Coach Ackeme Brown, our sprint coach, and I have gone through how I should be approaching my races and if I am able to execute that, then my possibilities are endless," Traore on his preparation for this coming weekend.
 
Andersen qualified in the mile run when he ran his fastest indoor mile of his career on Feb. 12th. His time of 4:06.59 is second fastest at Ramapo. He enters the championships with the seventh fastest mile time in the field of 20 runners. Andersen recently won the mile at the NJAC Indoor Championships. This is Andersen's first appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships in his career. Andersen will compete in the prelims on Friday afternoon and if he advances will compete in the finals on Saturday afternoon. "I narrowly missed nationals for the DMR in the winter of 2019-2020, missed three seasons because of the pandemic, and again narrowly missed nationals in the 800m last spring. After each of those experiences, I vowed to myself that I would work so hard that I would be better than I ever was, I would win, I would compete with the best, and I would make nationals all three seasons of my senior year, hopefully coming out on top as an All-American or National Champion. I have never let anyone or anything get in my way or deter me from my goals, and I never will. This national qualifier is another chance for me to solidify myself as a strong runner who has not let anything stop him from achieving his goals and reaching new heights. My past failures and shortcomings have driven me to be more determined than ever to come home with some hardware. I am extremely blessed and grateful for all of my supporters who have never wavered on my journey," Andersen on his experiences qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
 
Cruz, who broke her own school record on Saturday to qualify for the championships, will compete in the 60-meter hurdles on Friday afternoon. Cruz has lowered her school record time to 8.81 seconds, which is tied for 10th best in the field of 20 runners. Cruz was crowned NJAC Champion in the 60-meter hurdles while this is her first appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Cruz will compete in the prelims on Friday afternoon and if she advances will compete in the finals on Saturday afternoon. "The race this weekend was one of the most important races of my season. I knew I had to run fast in order to secure my spot for nationals. When I saw I ran my best time ever, it was the best feeling in the world. I've worked so hard for this moment and to achieve the goal I've had since I joined this team, and it is breathtaking. Preparing for nationals is my next step. I'm hoping to be an All-American and end my first collegiate winter season with a bang," Cruz on her experience this weekend and preparation for NCAA Championships.
 
The championships will be held March 11-12 at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with Visit Winston-Salem and Guilford College serving as hosts.