College Track & Field
Rider at MAAC Championships Day One

LAWRENCEVILLE--The Rider women are in first place and the Rider men are in second place after the first day of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Track & Field Championships, hosted by Rider Saturday and Sunday. "I thought we went really well today," said Rider head coach Bob Hamer. "The men have more points than we anticipated and the women out-performed themselves again."

For the Rider women, senior Alicia Price (Voorhees/Eastern) won the hammer in a MAAC Championship record distance of 52.93m. "Alicia Price is great," Hamer said. "Every meet she has been at recently she has either hit a personal record or some sort of record. She has really been competing well. We knew coming in she was going to do a good job. I casually mentioned to her that she had a shot at the meet record and she certainly delivered."

"Things went pretty well today," said Price, who won the hammer and the shot put at the MAAC Championships last spring and won the MAAC Indoor Championship this winter in the weight throw. "My goal tomorrow is to win the shot put and do well in the discus and hopefully that wil help us win the team title."

Junior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan) won the 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 11:23.19 after placing third in the event last year and fifth the year before. "Chelsea was disappointed a couple of weeks ago in the steeplechase," Hamer said, "but came back today and executed her strategy perfectly. For her to win, I couldn't be happier for a person who deserves a conference championship as much as Chelsea. She really works hard and it's great for her."

"The plan was just to relax and stay with the other runners," said Callan, who holds the Rider indoor record for the mile, " and to start moving away toward the end. It worked out, so I'm glad I was able to follow the plan. I love this event. It is not just the running, you also get to hurdle things, jump over things, jump in the water pit. It takes your mind off the running and changes things up a bit. It's fun."

Callan competes in the 1500m on Sunday. "I pretty much have the same plan for tomorrow," Callan said. "Just stay with the other runners as long as I can and if I have something left at the end, then finish strong."

For the Rider men, senior Brandon Wolf (Lititz, PA/Warwick) placed second in the hammer with a Rider record toss of 53.86, which qualifies for the IC4A Championships. "Brandon is a great kid," Hamer said. "He did not come here as a superstar but has worked hard and this year he has really improved. For him to break the Rider record was fantastic. Getting the IC4A qualifier was icing on the cake."

Freshman Jammar Lim (Ewing) placed second in the long jump (6.99m).

Also for the Rider women, freshman Caitlin Vanek (Riegelsville, PA/Wilson) placed second in the long jump (5.21m), freshman Erin Smith (Columbia, Pa./Hempfield) placed second in the javelin (37.70m) and senior Tara Hansen (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) placed third in the javelin (36.62m).

The women's 4 x 800m relay team of sophomore Kristen Perrine (Brick/Brick Memorial), junior Johanna Clarke (Laurelton, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy), sophomore Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) and freshman Lauren Findley (Hallstead, Pa./Blue Ridge)  placed third (9:23.52)

The men's 4 x 800m relay team of freshman Will Daley (Birdsboro, PA/Twin Valley), sophomore David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central), senior Phillip Capaldi (Woxall, Pa./Souderton) and freshman Greg Wesh (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) placed third (7:47.85)

Freshman Will Gomez (East Windsor/Notre Dame) placed fourth in the javelin (51.26), freshman Richard Verrall (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) placed fourth in the hammer (43.12) and fifth in the javelin (51.24m), freshman Jorge Merino (Old Bridge) placed fifth in the hammer (40.28), sophomore Adam Haun (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) placed fifth in the long jump (6.52m), freshman Sean Donohue (Cliffwood Beach/Matawan) placed fifth in the 10,000m (33:22.60) and freshman John Hill (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern) placed sixth in the 3,000m steeplechase (10:07.24).

Freshman Jillian Shutt (Lawrenceville, PA/Williamson) placed fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase (11:52.59), sophomore Kelli Kaelin (Little Egg Harbor/Pinelands Regional) placed fifth in the 10,000m (43:30), freshman Nicole Tassello (Suffern, NY) placed sixth in the 10,000m (43:46), freshman Catherine Remaley (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton) placed sixth in the hammer (37.54) and senior Jennifer Alksmant (Forked River/Lacey Township) placed seventh in the hammer (36.84).

Competition continues Sunday. "We know the Manhattan women are a strong team," Hamer said, "so we'll be in for a dog fight on Sunday. "I can't wait for tomorrow to start."

Team Standings after Day One

Men: Manhattan 63, Rider 39, Marist 38, Iona 27, Saint Peter's 18

Women: Rider 65, Manhattan 51, Iona 42, Saint Peter's 38, Loyola 21, Marist 14