College Outdoor Track and Field
Rider University at Hopkins/Loyola Invite 

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Rider men's and women's track and field teams competed through the rain in the Hopkins/Loyola Invite Saturday afternoon.  "The weather made it challenging," said head coach Bob Hamer, "but our mantra coming in was that we were going to go out there and compete none the less.  We did really well in a lot of events."

For the Rider men, senior Michael Soroko (Kinnelon) won the 1500m (4:09.36), sophomore James Burroughs (West Orange) won the 110m hurdles (15.11) and placed second in the 400m hurdles (54.72) and sophomore Jorge Merino (Old Bridge) won the shot put (14.38m).

"James had a great day," Hamer said.  "He is one of those guys that is always consistent every meet.  He came back this weekend and had a great weekend."

Sophomore Greg Wesh (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) won the 800m (1:54.73), freshman Wilvenson Baptiste (Irvington) won the 200m (22.68) and the 400m (50.52), freshman George Osti (Union) won the hammer throw (43.64m) and sophomore Dave Brown (Ewing) won the 400m hurdles (54.71).

For the Rider women, sophomore Erin McMullin (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) won the 200m (26.37) and the 400m (1:01.87), sophomore Ashley Hunter (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) won the 100m hurdles (15.81) and the 400m hurdles (1:05.98) and sophomore Krista Musinski (West Pittston, Pa./Wyoming Area Secondary) won the triple jump (10.06m) and finished second in the long jump (4.48m).

"Erin is a workhorse," said Hamer.  "We can through her in the 200m or the 400m and she can be a contender.  Today she was able to win today even though the times weren't the best because of the weather.  She does whatever she can to win."
 
Also for the Rider men, sophomore Perry Asare (Lindenwood) placed second in the long jump (5.73m), senior Christian Gonzalez (Somerset/Franklin Twp.) finished second in the 1500m (4:09.50) and the 800m (1:55.94), sophomore Richard Verrall (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) placed second in the hammer throw (41.05m), freshman Billy Hackmeister (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) finished second in the 5000m (15:58.14) and freshman Matthew Millemann (Hillsborough) placed second in the 110m hurdles (15.60).

The 4x800 relay of freshman Joseph Carlin (Staten Island, N.Y./McKee), Gonzalez, Soroko and Wesh finished second with a time of 8:29.72.

Also for the Rider women, sophomore Mia Riley (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) won the 100m (12.69), senior Jillian Rubbico (Plains, Pa./Coughlin) placed second in the 100m (13.07), freshman Lauryn Strebeck (Dayton/South Brunswick)  placed second in the 100m hurdles (16.53) and sophomore Jordyn Horning (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) finished second in the 400m (1:03.56).

The 4x100 relay of senior Shaylah Counts Newark, N.J. (Malcolm Shabazz), Riley, Rubbico and McMullin finished second with a time of 51.52.

The teams will compete next at the Larry Ellis Invitational in Princeton, April 22-23. 

"Larry Ellis is normally a highly competitive meet," Hamer said.  "We are hoping for some better weather and conditions, which will then be a better environment to compete in.  The facilities are fantastic.  We will race against great competition and hopefully we get great results."

-RU-