Indoor Track & Field
Rider at Army 5-Way
Men 4-0, Women 3-1
Ritter Wins Twice

WEST POINT, N.Y.—Both the Rider University men's and women's track & field teams competed Saturday at Army's 5-Way Invitational.

The Rider men won all four dual meets with the Bronc women going 3-1 on the day in the team scoring.

“Overall, I was really pleased,” said head coach Bob Hamer.  “We had a lot of great results.”

For the Rider women, senior Emily Ritter (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) won the mile (5:03.14) and the 800 meter (2:17.87), junior Olivia Rosenberger (North Wales, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy Academy) won the long jump (5.15m), freshman Lexie Fraction (Sewell/Washington Twp.) won the 60 hurdles (8.96) and freshman Cleopatra Morrison (Long Branch) won the 60 meter (7.79).

“Emily looks really fit and in great form,” Hamer said.

For the Rider men, sophomore Johnathan Jackson (Roselle/Magnet) won the 800 meter in an IC4A qualifying time of 1:54.77 and freshman Tyree Adams (Hamilton/Hamilton West) won the long jump (6.78m).

“We were looking for great efforts,” said Hamer.  “We got those and that's what I'm most happy with.  We may not have won a lot of events but we were very competitive.  It was an exciting day.”

Also for the Rider men, sophomore Lamont Higgins (New Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph HS (Metuchen)) was an IC4A qualifier in the 500 meter, finishing second (1:05.57) with junior Darien Edwards (South Orange/St. Benedict's) also qualifying for IC4As in the 500 meter with a time of 1:05.98, placing fourth.

Senior George Solujich (East Windsor/Notre Dame) qualified for IC4As in the shot put with a distance of 16.03, placing runner-up.

Higgins, Edwards, Jackson and freshman Anfernee Joseph (Somerset/Franklin) qualified for the IC4As in the 4x400 with a time of 3:20.76, finishing second.

The Broncs ran and jumped against Lehigh, Manhattan, Marist, Loyola Maryland and the host Knights of Army.  “Army always has a well-rounded program and Manhattan, they are a perennial conference contender and Lehigh is strong in the Patriot League,” Hamer said.  “We had some tough competition today and fared well but it wasn't a high pressure meet like we will see in a few weeks up in Boston or at IC4A/ECACs.”

Rider competes again on January 16 at the NYC Gotham Cup.

“Today was a confidence booster,” Hamer said.  “We say it all the time that you have to have the dedication and drive to train when no one is watching and that's the case from December into January when the student-athletes are home on break.  It takes a lot of self-discipline to stay true to yourself and your teammates as well and put in the extra effort.  That part of the dynamic is a little nerve racking as a coach.  We have built a great culture and as teammates, they push each other to succeed.  The message is getting through that you have to do the work.”

-RU-