ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Brandeis University men's and women's track and field team saw one school record, one finals qualifier and two All-American performances today on the first day of action at the 2025 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships at the Golisano Training Center in Rochester, New York.

In the Judges' first race of the day, first-year Peterly Leroy of Malden, Massachusetts, competed in the 400-meter dash. Running in the inside lane of lane 3 in the first heat, Leroy ran 26.68 seconds for her first 200, quickly making up the stagger on her opponent in Lane 4. While she made a move to the outside over the final 75 meters, running 30.13, Leroy was unable to catch her other two competitors and finished third in her heat. Her time of 56.80 seconds lowered Brandeis's school record for the third time this season, shaving another 0.07 off her previous lifetime best. Leroy finished 0.4 seconds out of the finals, but still easily secured second-team All-America honors. She was second among New England runners and third among University Athletic Association competitors.

"Peterly showed up and competed her best today," said head track and field coach Miles Ketchum. "To set a PR and a school record, and finish as a second-team All-American at her first NCAA Championships is not an easy task. It's a testament to her composure and potential. Being so close to making the finals, I know she will be hungry to close that gap during the outdoor season."

The next event on the track was the men's 800-meter run, featuring junior Garret Rieden of Littleton, Massachusetts. Seeded fifth in the meet, Rieden ran in the second of three heats, needing to win or have one of the top two non-winning times to advance to the finals. Rieden ran from the back through the first lap, sitting in sixth place after running 28.68. After the second lap, Rieden ran 29.13 and pushed his way to the front of the six-person pack. After getting to the lead, Rieden held it the rest of the way, occasionally looking over his shoulder, turning in a time of 1:53.67 to edge Hutton Edney of Wartburg College by one-tenth of a second.

"Garret ran a fantastic tactical race," said distance coach Michael Schmidt. "He moved up well throughout the race and showed his poise like a veteran in his first national appearance. He is ready for the final and to continue the great tradition of Brandeis 800 runners that he and his classmate TJ Carleo are pushing each other towards."

Brandeis will have two competitors on tomorrow's second day of action. In addition to Rieden, who will run the 800-meter finals at 4:50 p.m., first-year Sarai Sealy of New York, New York, will take part in the women's triple jump, starting at 11 a.m.