College Track & Field
Rider at Terrier Invitational - Day Two
Soroko sets Rider Record in 3000 meter

BOSTON, MASS.-The Rider University track and field team competed this weekend at Boston University in the Terrier Invitational.  The Rider men competed on Saturday after the Bronc women competed on Friday.

"Our goal was to come up here and get IC4A and ECAC qualifiers and maybe break a few records along the way," said head coach Bob Hamer.  "It was important for us to do well here because that is where IC4As and ECACs are held and being comfortable competing here is a big step mentally in order for us to have a successful meet later in February at championships."

For the Rider men, junior Michael Soroko (Kinnelon) was ninth in the 3000 meter with an IC4A qualifying time of 8:11.88, breaking a Rider record held by Rider Hall of Famer Terence Wheat from 1985.  "That was a great (25 year) record for Mike to break," Hamer added.

Also for the Rider men, senior Marcellus Manning (Richland/Buena) was third in the 55 meter hurdles (7.79) and 56th in the 200 meter (23.31), junior John Clark (Pennsville) was fourth in the weight throw with an IC4A qualifying mark of 17.56m and was 13th in the shot put (14.47m), freshman David Hightower (Easton, Pa.) placed fifth in the 55 meter hurdles (7.82) and 16th in the 200 meter (22.40) and freshman Tyree Leonard (Browns Mills/Pemberton) was sixth in the high jump (1.93m) and 12th in the triple jump (12.57m).

"I'm excited about where we are in our training and how hard we competed," said Hamer.

Junior Brian Leggett (Old Chatham, N.Y./Chatham) was seventh in the pole vault (4.11m), freshman Perry Asare (Lindenwold) was seventh in the triple jump (13.26m) and 10th in the long jump (6.40m), freshman Daequan Kim (Bordentown) was eighth in the 200m with an IC4A qualifying time of 21.95 and was also 10th in the 55 meter dash (6.60).

Sophomore Adam Haun (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) was 11th in the long jump (6.31m), freshman Jorge Merino (Old Bridge) was 11th in the shot put (14.72m) and 39th in the weight throw (10.82m), freshman James Burroughs (West Orange) placed 12th in the 55 meter hurdles (8.17) and 31st in the 200 meter (22.75), junior Christian Gonzalez (Somerset/Franklin Twp.) was 15th in the mile with an IC4A qualifying time of 4:11.06 and senior Brandon Wolf (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) was 19th in the weight throw (14.05m).

Sophomore David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central) was 21st in the 800 meter (1:56.76) and freshman Richard Verrall (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) was 28th in the weight throw (12.98m), freshman Jammar Lim (Ewing) was 30th in the 200 meter (22.72), sophomore Ron Moore (Nashville, Tenn./John Overton) was 46th in the 400 meter (50.73), freshman Sean McCullough (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./La Salle) was 48th in the 5000 meter (15:25.46) and sophomore Mike Bartoli (Millstone/Allentown) was 64th in the 400 meter (51.94) and 71st in the 200 meter (23.77).

The men's 4x400 relay of Lim, Burroughs, Hightower and Kim was sixth with a time of 3:18.60, qualifying for IC4As.

The women's 4x800 relay competed on Saturday with junior Johanna Clarke (Laurelton, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy), junior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan), sophomore Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) and sophomore Laura Staples (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) placing third with a time of 9:20.81, qualifying for ECACs.

Rider competes at the New Balance Invitational at the Armory in New York February 5-6.

-RU-