College Track & Field
Men: Monmouth University 291, Rider University 158
Women: Monmouth University 303, Rider University 132
WEST LONG BRANCH-The Broncs lost a dual meet at Monmouth in the inaugural dual meet in the $57 million Multipurpose Activity Center. "It's been three or four years since we ran a dual meet," said Rider head coach Bob Hamer. "This was one of the things I wanted to get back to, the competition of us vs. them. It is a great set-up for us. The tools we need to be successful in the conference championship situation."
For the Rider men, junior John Clark (Pennsville) won the weight throw with an IC4A qualifying distance of 17.39m. "That was probably the highlight of the night," Hamer said.
Junior Christian Gonzalez (Somerset/Franklin Twp.) won the mile (4:23.71), junior Michael Soroko (Kinnelon) won the 3,000m (8:31.05) and sophomore Adam Haun (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) won the high jump (1.94m).
"Mike Soroko had a tremendous race tonight," Hamer said.
For the Rider women, freshman Gina Campagna (Cicero, NY) won the pole vault (2.28m), senior Alicia Price (Voorhees/Eastern) won the weight throw (15.95m) and was second in the shot put (12.55m) and sophomore Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) won the mile (5:15.78).
"Alicia had a really good performance in the weight throw," Hamer said. "Heather ran a great time in the mile."
Also for the Rider women, freshman Ashley Hunter (Northampton, Pa.) placed second in the 60m hurdles (9.70), junior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan) placed second in the 3,000m (10:31.24) and junior Johanna Clarke (Laurelton, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy) was second in the 800m (2:24.96).
"Chelsea Callan did a tremendous job tonight," Hamer said.
Also for the Rider men, freshman Daequan Kim (Bordentown) placed second in the 60m dash (7.05) and the 400m dash (51.54) and freshman David Hightower (Easton, Pa.) placed second in the 500m (1:08.18) and the 60m hurdles (8.36).
"We had a really great effort today. Monmouth is a great team," Hamer said. "They are a perennial contender for the championship in their conference. We wanted to measure ourselves against a top team in the state."
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