College Indoor Track and Field
M: Rider 89 TCNJ 74
W: TCNJ 89 Rider 75 
 3 IC4A Qualifiers 

LAWRENCEVILLE - The Rider men's and women's track and field teams took on TCNJ in a battle of turf wars with the men winning and the women losing.  Both teams use the indoor facility, at Lawrenceville Prep, for practice time all winter.  "I was really happy for the men," said head coach Bob Hamer.  "We came in with the goal to win.  We had a lot of great performances and I was pretty excited about that."

 "It is a nice battle because we know them and they know us so well, we are close in proximity and we share the same practice facility.  It makes for a great atmosphere for the competition.  They are really gunning for us and we are really gunning for them.  It is definitely an exciting environment."

For the Rider men, sophomore David Hightower (Easton, Pa./Easton) placed second (7.64), sophomore James Burroughs (West Orange) finished third in the 55m hurdles (7.64) and senior Christian Gonzalez (Somerset/Franklin Twp.) won the 1000m (2:26.11).  All three of the times were IC4A qualifiers.

"Those are both IC4A qualifiers and I am really happy about that, especially for James," Hamer said.  "He has worked really hard and hasn't been able to get that time, but he was able to today."

For the Rider women, senior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan) won the mile (5:12.94), sophomore Erin McMullin (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) won the 400m (58.51), junior Kristen Perrine (Brick/Brick Memorial) won the 1000m (3:00.82) and freshman Ciana Woods (Berlin/Winslow Township) won the long jump (5.03).

"We were a little disappointed," said Hamer.  "We thought we would be a little closer and have a chance to win.  On the jump side we were looking for improvements and we did a great job in the triple jump and the long jump.  I am really excited for them.  It just shows that those kids are capable of competing at a very high level.  Hopefully the results from today will give them some confidence going into the next level."

Also for the Rider men, sophomore Greg Wesh (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) won the mile (4:15.08), sophomore Dave Brown (Ewing) won the 400m (50.66), freshman Steven Brown (Penns Grove) won the triple jump (14.83) and freshman George Osti (Union) won the weight throw (15.27).

"George had a really big break through day," Hamer said.  "He did a fantastic job in the weight throw and the shot put.  He has made tremendous strides this year.  I am really, really excited with his improvements."

Senior Brian Leggett (Old Chatham, N.Y./Chatham) won the pole vault (4.57), sophomore Perry Asare (Lindenwood) won the long jump (7.01) and sophomore Jorge Merino (Old Bridge) won the shot put (15.30).

The 4x200 relay of Hightower, Dave Brown, sophomore Daequan Kim (Bordentown)

and junior Ron Moore (Nashville, Tenn./John Overton) won with a time of 1:30.99.

The 4x800 relay of Gonzalez, Wesh, freshman Matt Sampson (Manasquan) and junior David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central) won with a time of 8:00.60.

The 4x200 relay of senior Shaylah Counts Newark, N.J. (Malcolm Shabazz), senior Jillian Rubbico (Plains, Pa./Coughlin), sophomore Mia Riley (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and McMullin won with a time of 1:46.59.

The 4x800 relay of Callan, junior Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford), Perrine and junior Laura Staples (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) won with a time of 9:33.67.                                                                            

Last year the men came away with the victory over the Lions and the women lost.  Both were decided by less then seven overall points.

The Broncs participate next against Lafayette on Friday February 11.

"It is our last tune up prior to the conference championships," said Hamer.  "We will go in there with having each kid participating in one event to sure some things up and get ready for the following weekend."

-RU-