Broncs Compete for MAAC Title Friday
NEW YORK, NY-The Broncs will compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships this Friday at the New Balance Armory.
"We are excited for the opportunity to compete for MAAC Championships on Friday night," said Rider head coach Bob Hamer. "Both teams are ready and very excited for the opportunity to compete. This meet is always a focal point of our season and we look forward to a great meet."
The Rider men, who placed runner-up the last three years to perennial champion and host Manhattan, will be led by senior David Hightower (Easton, Pa/Easton) in the 60m hurdles and the 200m. Last winter Hightower won the 60m hurdles in a MAAC record time of 8.31, and placed in both the 200m and in the 60m dash.
Other key Broncs include sophomore George Solujich (East Windsor/Notre Dame) in the shot put, junior Steven Brown (Penns Grove) in the long jump and the triple jump, sophomore Andrew Pozo (Forked River/Toms River South) in the weight throw, senior James Burroughs (West Orange) in the 60m hurdles and senior Greg Wesh (Hatboro Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) in the 800m and the mile.
Solujich holds the Rider record in the shot put (16.55m or 54'3.75"), Brown leads the MAAC in both the long and triple jumps, Pozo is an IC4A qualifier in the weight throw, Burroughs was the Rider Athlete of the Year last year after earning All-East honors in the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Wesh anchored the record setting spring medley Relay and is an IC4A qualifier in the 800m and the 1,000m.
The Rider women, who placed fourth last winter and third at the Outdoor Championships last spring, will be led by freshman La'tazah Coleman (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink) in the 60m dash and the high jump. Coleman currently ranks first in the MAAC in both of those events.
Other key Broncs include senior Megan Elgin (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) in the 3,000m and the 5,000m, freshman Madeline Hummel (Marlton/Holy Cross) in the 800m, senior Mia Riley (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) in the sprints and sophomore Emily Ritter (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) in the mile and 3,000m.
Hummel is the Rider record holder in the 800m (2:15.77) and Ritter broke the Rider record in the mile this year (4:57.73). Elgin holds the Rider record in the 3,000m (9:53.92). Riley was second (photo finish) in the 60m at the 2012 MAAC Championships after winning the MAAC 55m in 2011 in a Rider record time.
Rider will also look for big performances from junior Rhea Phipps (Basking Ridge/Ridge) in the weight throw, freshman Dashana Ransome (Irvington) in the long jump and the 60m hurdles and freshman Miranda Roberts (Sewell/Washington Twp.) in the pole vault.
Phipps is an ECAC qualifier in the weight throw, Ransome holds the Rider record in the 55m hurdles, the 60m hurdles and the long jump, Roberts tied the Rider record in the pole vault (3.30m or 10'9.5"),
The first event begins at 6pm and the final event starts at 10:05pm. The schedule is attached.
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