Rider junior Nicole Berry ran a big PR in her first 800 of the season, going 2:17.83 at the Princeton New Year’s Invitational at Jadwin Gym.
Berry, a 2016 graduate of Winslow Township, had a previous 800 PR of 2:18.67, which she ran as a freshman.
She won at Princeton out of the unseeded heat, taking the second section by nearly six seconds. Kathleen Jaeger of TCNJ was second with a 2:18.58 in the first section.
Berry was mainly a hurdler at Winslow, where she won the Camden County title in the intermediates in 1:04.10 and finished fourth at Group 3 sectionals and ninth at states. She did run some 800s, with a best of 2:20.44 at sectionals.
Last spring, Berry ran 1:03.74 in the intermediates and was fourth at the Metro Atlantic Championships in Lawrenceville.
Berry’s time converts to a 2:16.26 on the Direct Athletics rankings since her time came on a flat 200-meter track.
Berry will have a chance to run an 800 on a fast banked track in two weeks when Rider competes in the Wagner Invite at the Ocean Breeze facility in Staten Island.