College Cross Country

Rider at Princeton Invitational

WEST WINDSOR, NJ—The Rider cross country teams competed in the Princeton Invitational Saturday.

The Rider women were 17^th of 35 teams and the Rider men were 22^nd of 37 teams.

In the women's Championship race senior Emily Ritter (Millsboro, DE/Sussex Tech) placed ninth overall in 21:59. “To get in the top ten in this field was terrific,” said Rider head coach Bob Hamer. “that was a great finish for her.”

Rider junior Nicolette Mateescu (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) was 43^rd of 278 runners in 22:34 and sophomore Megan McGarrity (Philadelphia, PA/Saint Basil) was 71^st in 22:58. “Niky and Meg ran really good races,” Hamer said. “We have a strong front three.”

Last year Mateescu placed 63^rd of 206 runners.

“On the women's side we raced up front very well,” Hamer said.  “Emily ran a fantastic race. She patiently moved up the whole race and ran a real hard last 1,000 meters which I was really impressed with. That was the kind of effort we needed from her. That was the fastest time we've ever had on this course.”

In the men's Championship race senior Anthony Dentino (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) placed 46^th of 301 runners overall in 25:05. “Anthony was okay through the first 5,000m but didn't run very well over the final 3,000m” Hamer said.

Last year Dentino placed 25^th of 272 runners.

Also for Rider in the Championship race, freshman Danniel Belay (Gaithersburg, MD/Gaithersburg) was 103^rd in 25:40,senior Nasser Zayer (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) was 132^nd in 25:56, senior Dylan Hallahan (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional) was 148^th in 26:06, senior Derek Lake (Middletown, NY/Pine Bush) was 149^th in 26:06 and sophomore Bradley Kaufmann (East Meadow, NY) was 164^th in 26:28.

“On the men's side it was a bit disappointing,” Hamer said.  “We just haven't run up to our potential, up to our capabilities.”

In the men's Open race freshman David Paduani (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor) placed 61^st in 26:54, freshman Nick Kontos (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) was 68^th in 27:01 and freshman Mike Pinnola (Manalapan, NJ/Colts Neck) was 67^th in 26:59.

Rider will now compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships October 31 at Holmdel Park. “We're looking forward to the MAAC meet,” Hamer said.  “We think we've done the things we've needed to do to prepare for it.”

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