College Indoor Track & Field
Rider at MAAC Championships
Women: 2nd / Men: 5th
Broncs Set Five Rider Records
NEW YORK, N.Y.?Both the Rider University men's and women's indoor track and field teams competed Friday night at the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field championships held at the Armory in New York. The women's team finished second out of six teams with the men's team placing fifth out of five. “Both teams showed up tonight and competed with a lot of heart,” said head coach Bob Hamer. “We went out and left it all on the track. I was happy with the effort and for the most part, we exceeded our expectations.”
For the Rider women, junior Alicia Price (Voorhees/Eastern) won the weight throw (15.69m) and was third in the shot put (11.17m), senior Tabatha Haskins (Medford/Shawnee) was second in the triple jump with a Rider record distance of 11.63m, second in the long jump (5.53m), third in the 55 meter hurdles (8.61), fifth in the shot put (10.16m) and fifth in the high jump (1.55m), senior Kelly Kajunski (Glenmore, Pa./Downington East) was second in the high jump (1.65m), fourth in the triple jump (10.95m), fourth in the pole vault (2.30m) and sixth in the long jump (5.09m), sophomore Chelsea Callan Hazlet/Raritan) was third in the mile with a Rider record time of 5:06.94, junior Kelsey Kohler (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil's Academy) finished third in the 5000 with a Rider record time of 18:19.33 and senior Megan Crowe (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert's) placed third in the 3000 meter (10:30.91).
“We are laying a foundation to be successful on both the women's and men's teams and tonight was a key step for both teams,” Hamer said. “Alicia works hard every day and had led the throws group. She did a fantastic job winning the event. And Tabatha had a great day as well. She set ?PR's' in both the triple jump and the long jump, set a school record and has really raised her game to another level. When the pressure is on, she stands up and delivers.”
For the Rider men, senior Marcellus Manning (Richland/Buena) won the 55 meter hurdles (7.77) and was ninth in the 200 meter dash (23.67), sophomore Brian Leggett (Old Chatham, N.Y./Chatham) won the pole vault (4.42m), freshman Adam Haun (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) was second in the high jump (1.84m), fourth in the triple jump (12.75m) and sixth in the long jump (6.44m), sophomore John Clark (Pennsville) was second in the shot put (14.93m) and third in the weight throw (16.82m), junior Brandon Wolf (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) was fourth in the weight throw (16.13m) and fourth in the shot put (13.66m), sophomore Derek Rogers (Williamstown/Winslow Township) was fifth in the 400 meter (51.22), seventh in the 55 meter dash (6.64) and eighth in the 200 meter dash (23.22) and sophomore Christian Gonzalez (Somerset/Franklin Twp.) placed fifth in the mile (4:15.72).
“Marcellus has been steady and has attacked the hurdles every time out,” Hamer said. “He had a big win and I was very happy for him. He has worked very hard to get where he is. Brian, in winning the pole vault, I couldn't be happier. He shows up every day and works his butt off. He is the epitome of if you show up every day and work hard, you will be successful. He has the desire to be great.”
Also for the Rider women, senior Kelly Wojciehowski (Fair Haven/Rumson-Fair Haven) was fourth in the 5000 (18:32.23), senior Ashley Maynard (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl) placed fourth in the 55 meter hurdles (8.67) and 11th in the 400 meter (1:02.57), junior Jennifer Alksmant (Forked River/Lacey Township) was fifth in the weight throw (11.73m) and seventh in the shot put (9.88m), freshman Kristen Perrine (Brick/Brick Township) was fifth in the 800 meter with a Rider record time of 2:17.89 and junior Lauren Lester (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) placed fifth in the mile (5:11.19).
Freshman Alexandria Nelson Trenton/Trenton Central) was sixth in the 200 meter (26.72), seventh in the 55 meter dash (7.72) and ninth in the 400 meter (1:01.85), junior Karlise Cureton (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) was seventh in the 55 meter hurdles (8.79) and 11th in the 200 meter (27.34), sophomore Tiera Rice (Tappan/Tappan Zee) was 10th in the 400 meter (1:02.35) and 15th in the 55 meter dash (8.13), sophomore Ashley O'Brien (Edison/John P. Stevens) placed 10th in the 5000 (19:45.51) and freshman Amanda Quinones (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) was 10th in the 3000 meter (11:24.29).
Also for the Rider men, freshman Ron Moore (Nashville, Tenn./John Overton) placed sixth in the 55 meter hurdles (8.19) and seventh in the 200 meter dash (23.17), senior Matt Dahl (West Keansburg,/Raritan) was eighth in the 5000 (15:34.38), freshman David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central) was ninth in the 800 meter (1:58.98) and sophomore Michael Soroko (Kinnelon) placed 10th in the mile (4:33.81).
Junior Phillip Capaldi (Woxall, Pa./Souderton) finished 12th in the 5000 (16:11.58), freshman Mike Bartoli (Millstone/Allentown) was 12th in the 55 meter dash (12.99) and 13th in the 400 meter (52.64), freshman Steven Busch (Montville) was 12th in the shot put (10.31m), senior Terrell Anderson (Kansas City, M.O./Belton) placed 13th in the 55 meter dash (7.11) and freshman David Richardson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Harry S Truman) was 16th in the 3000 meter (9:39.29).
Sophomore Jillian Rubbico (Plains, Pa./Coughlin) placed 11th in the 55 meter dash (8.00) and 15th in the 200 meter (28.09), freshman Kelli Kaelin (Little Egg Harbor/Pinelands Regional) was 11th in the 3000 meter (11:28.46), sophomore Johanna Clarke (Laurelton, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy) was 13th in the 800 meter (2:24.01), senior Patrice Mahoney (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond) was 15th in the mile (6:05.72), freshman Laura Staples (Horsham, Pa./Appalachian State) (Hatboro-Horsham) was 15th in the 800 meter (2:25.45) and junior Kelly Dissinger (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) was 18th in the 400 meter (1:08.41).
The men's distance medley relay of Gonzalez, Bartoli, Soroko and Dahl finished second (10:21.93) with the 4x400 relay of Manning, Rogers, Moore, Haun finishing fifth with a time of 3:34.04.
The women's distance medley relay of Giovagnoli, Dissinger, Lester and Perrine finished third with a Rider record time of 12:27.88 with the 4x400 relay of Clarke, Counts, Rice and Maynard placing fourth with a time of 4:18.94.
“I was really pleased with the effort in the meet,” Hamer said. “Each athlete has different levels where they will be successful and we keep surpassing them and that will make us stronger as we head into the outdoor season.”
Rider competes at the NYU Fast Track Invite February 27.
Team Scores:
Women: Manhattan 222.50, Rider 125.50, Saint Peter's 96, Iona 67, Marist 54, Loyola 43
Men: Manhattan 170, Saint Peter's 103.50, Iona 78, Marist 72.50, Rider 70
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