MAAC Track & Field Championships
Rider Men 2nd of 5, Rider Women 3rd of 6
Hamer Men's Coach of the Year, Kim Most Outstanding Performer
12 Broncs MAAC All-Academic
NEW YORK, NY-The Rider men placed second of five and the Rider women were third of six teams at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, held at the 168th Street Armory in New York Friday. Head Coach Bob Hamer was named the men's Coach of the Year.
For the Rider men freshman Daequan Kim (Bordentown) won the 55m dash (6.46), won the 200m (21.91) and led the 4 x 400 relay to first place in a time of 3:19.81 to be named the Most Outstanding Performer. "Daequan had an unbelievable day," Hamer said. "We knew he was a special kid when we recruited him and when you have a special kid you want him to show up in the special moments. He shined in those moments today."
All three of Kim's races were IC4A qualifiers.
Junior Christian Gonzalez (Somerset/Franklin Twp.) won the mile in a Rider-record 4:08.11, breaking the mark set by Rider Hall of Famer Terrance Armstrong '94 of 4:09.11. Gonzalez placed fifth (4:15.72) last year. "We're starting to knock those guys from the 90s out of the record books," Hamer said. "Terrance was a tremendous runner so that was a credit to Chris. Today he ran a perfect race and made all of the right moves."
Freshman David Hightower (Easton, Pa.) won the 55m hurdles (7.66) and placed fifth in the 200m (22.66), junior Michael Soroko (Kinnelin) won the 3,000m (8:19.12) and freshman Jammar Lim (Ewing) won the high jump (6'4.25").
Kim ran on the winning 4 x 400 with Hightower, Lim and Burroughs. "These young guys really stepped up today," Hamer said.
For the Rider women senior Alicia Price (Voorhees/Eastern) won the wt. throw (54'6") and placed second in the shot put (45'2.25"). "Alicia had a good day," Hamer said. "Both of those marks were ECAC qualifiers. She's been the rock on that team. When the big time lights shine she shows up and puts it all together when it counts the most."
The 4 x 400 relay team of Counts, freshman Lauren Findley (Hallstead, Pa./Blue Ridge), McMullin and Hunter won in a time of 3:58.77.
Freshman Caitlin Vanek (Riegelsville, PA/Wilson) placed second in the triple jump (35'8.75") and fifth in the long jump (16'4.5"). Junior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan) placed third in the 3,000m (10:24.49).
The Distance Medley Relay team of sophomore Kristen Perrine (Brick), Riley, Clarke and Giovagnoli placed fourth (12:44.61).
Also for the Rider men, the Distance Medley Relay team of Wesh, sophomore Mike Bartoli (Millstone/Allentown), South and Gonzalez placed second (10:18.49), junior John Clark (Pennsville) placed second in the wt. throw (57'7.75") and third in the shot put (48'4.75") and freshman Jorge Merino (Old Bridge) placed second in the shot put with a Rider-record 52'1" toss and seventh in the wt. throw (44'3.5").
Junior Brian Leggett (Old Chatham, NY/Chatham) placed third in the pole vault (13'9.25"), freshman Greg Van Sciver (Mount Laurel/Lenape) placed fourth in the pole vault (13'3.5"), senior Brandon Wolf (Lititz, PA/Warwick) placed fourth in the wt. throw (55'1.0") and fifth in the shot put (45'1"), freshman James Burroughs (West Orange) placed fourth in the 55m hurdles (7.84), freshman Perry Asare (Lindenwold) placed fourth in the triple jump (43'9") and fifth in the long jump (21'8.25"), sophomore Adam Haun (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) placed fourth in the long jump (22'1.75"), freshman Tyree Leonard (Browns Mills/Pemberton) placed fifth in the triple jump (42'9.75") and fifth in the high jump (6'2.25"), freshman Greg Wesh (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) placed fifth in the 800m (1:55.93), sophomore Ron Moore (Nashville, TN/John Overton) placed fifth in the 55m hurdles (8.05) and 10th in the 400m (50.91).
Sophomore David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central) placed sixth in the 800m (1:56.76) and freshman Richard Verrall (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) placed sixth in the wt. throw (45'7.25").
Also for the Rider women senior Kelsey Kohler (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) placed fourth in the 5,000m (18:22.64), junior Shaylah Counts (Newark/Malcolm Shabazz) placed fourth in the 55m dash (7.33) and fifth in the 200m (25.80) and freshman Erin McMullin (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) placed fourth in the 200m (25.61).
Freshman Mia Riley (West Caldwell/James Caldwell) placed fifth in the 55m dash (7.36), sophomore Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) placed fifth in the mile (5:19.28), senior Dominique Carnevale (Oceanport/Shore Regional) placed sixth in the 5,000m (19:34.88), freshman Jillian Shutt (Lawrenceville, PA/Williamson) placed sixth in the 3,000m (10:38.79), freshman Erin Fitzgibbons (Sayreville) placed seventh in the 5,000m (19:43.84), freshman Ashley Hunter (Northampton, Pa.) placed seventh in the 400m (1:00.14), freshman Catherine Remaley (Lehighton, PA) placed seventh in the wt. throw (40'9.5"), freshman Krista Musinski (West Pittston, PA/Wyoming) placed seventh in the triple jump (33'5.25"), sophomore Kelli Kaelin (Little Egg Harbor/Pinelands Regional0 placed eighth in the 5,000m (20:03.25), freshman Gina Campagna (Cicero, NY) placed eighth in the pole vault (8'6.25") and junior Johanna Clarke (Laurelton, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy) placed ninth in the 800m (2:20.22).
"As far as being named Coach of the Year, it is great to be recognized by your peers but as everybody knows the kids are the driving force and my staff does a tremendous job," Hamer said. "The award is for all of them."
The Rider women won the 2007 MAAC Title and have placed runner-up 12 times. The Rider men have now placed runner-up 12 times.
Named to the MAAC All-Academic team were junior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan), sophomore Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford), senior Kelsey Kohler (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy), junior Ashley O'Brien (Edison/J.P. Stevens), sophomore Kristen Perrine (Brick), sophomore Laura Staples (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham), senior Terrell Anderson (Kansas City, MO/Belton), sophomore Mike Bartoli (Millstone/Allentown), junior John Clark (Pennsville), junior Brian Leggett (Old Chatham, NY/Chatham), junior Michael Soroko (Kinnelin) and sophomore David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central).
Callan is an Elementary Education/Psychology major with a 3.75 grade point average, Giovagnoli is a Elementary Education/Psychology major with a 3.39, Kohler majors in Liberal Arts and has a 3.30, O'Brien has a 3.52 as a Secondary Education/Chemistry major, Perrine is an Elementary Education/Psychology major with a 3.81 and Staples is a Journalism major with a 3.94.
Anderson is a Communication major with a 3.34 grade point average, Bartoli owns a 3.40 as an Accounting major, Clark is a Psychology major with a 3.31, Leggett is an Accounting major with a 3.70, Soroko is a Business major with a 3.56 and South has a 3.58 as a Finance major.
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