College Outdoor Track and Field
Rider University at Monmouth Season Opener
Three Winners / One IC4A Qualifier

WEST LONG BRANCH -- The Rider men's and women's and track and field teams opened up their spring season at the 16th annual Monmouth Season Opener.  "We had a really good day," said head coach Bob Hamer.

For the Rider men, senior Michael Soroko (Kinnelon) won the 1500m (3:59.66) and David Hightower (Easton, Pa./Easton) won the 110m hurdles (14.2), which is an IC4A qualifier and finished second in the 400m hurdles (54.85).

"David had a really great indoor season and followed it up with a great start to his outdoor season," Hamer said.  "To get an IC4A qualifier with 20 degree weather shows his character and how hard he has worked to prepare.  It was good to get Mike back on board as well.  He has not ran in a track race since last winter.  It was really great to have him back out there again and it was a good solid performance for him."

For the Rider women, sophomore Mia Riley (West Caldwell/James Caldwell) won the 10om (12.36)

"Mia has shown that indoor wasn't something that happened by accident," said Hamer.  "She has put in the work, the effort and the time.  She has just continued the great work from the indoor season.  She put in a really great run in on a tough day."

Also for the Rider men, freshman Steven Brown (Penns Grove) placed second in the triple jump (13.71) and third in the long jump (6.49m), sophomore Jorge Merino (Old Bridge) finished third in the shot put (15.09m) and third in the discus (43.93m), sophomore James Burroughs (West Orange) placed second in the 110m hurdles (15.00), and freshman Christopher McGovern (Old Bridge/St. John Vianney) placed third in the javelin (54.65).

The 4x100m relay team of freshman Wilvenson Baptiste (Irvington), Hightower, Burroughs, and sophomore Daequan Kim (Bordentown) finished third with a time of 42.86.

The 4x200m relay team of Baptiste, freshman Dave Brown (), junior Ron Moore (Nashville, Tenn./John Overton), and freshman Joseph Carlin (Staten Island, N.Y./McKee)  placed third with a time of 3:25.17.

Also for the Rider women, freshman Lauryn Strebeck (Dayton/South Brunswick) placed second in the long jump (4.88m) and third in the triple jump (10.93m), junior Kristen Perrine (Brick/Brick Memorial) finished second in the 1500m (4:45.22) and sophomore Erin McMullin (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) placed second in the 200m (25.61).

The 4x100m relay team of senior Shaylah Counts Newark, N.J. (Malcolm Shabazz), Riley, senior Jillian Rubbico (Plains, Pa./Coughlin), and McMullin finished second with a time of 48.64.

The 4x200m relay team of McMullin, sophomore Lauren Findley (Hallstead, Pa./Blue Ridge), Rubbico, and Hunter placed second with a time of 4:05.03.

Rider will be back on the track Thursday March 31st at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va.

"This is always a great weekend for us," Hamer said.  "It is a chance for us to go in some warm weather and a great weekend for the athletes to get away from campus for a couple of days and into a great track and field meet.  It is an opportunity to post some great times and confidence to carry through the rest of the season."

-RU-