College Track & Field

Rider at Gotham Cup

NEW YORK, NY—The Broncs competed at the New York City Armory Friday in the Gotham Cup.

“Overall as a team we were hoping for better performances from our athletes,” said head coach Bob Hamer. “We tried to force too many outcomes instead of relaxing and just competing.  We got too excited at times and it did not yield the result that we had expected. It is definitely a learning experience for our athletes and hopefully we will apply those lessons moving forward.”

For the Rider women senior Emily Ritter (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) set a new Rider record in the 3,000m in 9:46.96, finishing eighth overall, fourth among collegiate runners.

For the men, senior George Solujich (East Windsor/Notre Dame) threw the shot put 16.30 meters (53'5.75”), an IC4A qualifying distance, placing third

“We did have a few outstanding individual performances from the team today,” Hamer said. “Emily Ritter set a new Rider record in the 3000 and also qualified for ECACs. Solujich performed well in the shot put again throwing over 16 meters to qualify for IC4As. He has been very consistent for us this year and he is ready to hit a big throw.”

Also for the Rider women, freshman Lexie Fraction (Sewell/Washington Twp.) placed 16^th in the 60m hurdles (9.04) and set a personal record in the 60m (8.00), placing 36^th.  Freshman Cleopatra Morrison (Long Branch) placed 12^th in the 60 meter dash (7.73)

“Lexie Fraction and Cleo Morrison both had another very good meet and they are showing that they are capable of being consistent standout performers for the women,” Hamer said.

Freshman Stephanie Lombardo (Buffalo, N.Y./Cheektowaga) set a personal record in the shot put, placing sixth with a distance of 43'1” (13.13m) and freshman Karoline Sandvig (West Windsor, NJ) was 13^th in the wt. throw (46'3.25”).

“The women throwers of Lombardo and Sandvig had a very good day and I am excited about their progress,” Hamer said.

Also for the Rider men, the 4 x 800 of freshman Anfernee Joseph (Somerset/Franklin), sophomore Scott Wood (Florence, N.J./ Holy Cross), sophomore Johnathan Jackson (Roselle/Magnet) and junior Tom McLaughlin (Egg Harbor, NJ) finished in an IC4A qualifying time of 7:52.64.

“The men's 4x800 of Joseph, Wood, Jackson, and McLaughlin also qualified for IC4As,” Hamer said. “We were hoping for a faster time but getting the qualifier was the priority.”

Also for the Rider women, junior Nicolette Mateescu (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) set a personal record in the 3,000m (10:16.29) and sophomore Ariana Gagliardi (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) set a personal record in the mile (5:55.87).

Senior Taylor Harmon (Robbinsville, NJ) placed 18^th in the high jump (5'1”), freshman Naomi Clarke (Hackensack, NJ) was 20^th in the 60m dash (7.86) and ran a personal record time of 26.58 in the 200, junior Madeline Hummel (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross) placed 23^rd in the 800 (2:21.66)

Also for the Rider men senior Anthony DeFranco (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Gov. Livingston) was sixth in the pole vault (15'3”), Kyle Bryant was 10^th in the triple jump (44'11.5”), sophomore Erik Adamick (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) was 11^th in the pole vault (14'9”), sophomore Devon Jefferson (Franklin Park, NJ/Franklin) placed 12^th in the 60m hurdles (8.32), sophomore Lamont Higgins (New Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) placed ninth in the 200 (22.37) and 17^th in the 400m (50.03), senior Joe Vicini (Millstone, NJ) was 15^th in the wt. throw (45'7”), senior Anthony Dentino (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) was 25^th in the 3,000 (8:47.78), freshman Juan Baxter (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) placed 17^th in the 60m hurdles (8.36), junior Jon Knipper (Randolph, NJ) set a personal record in the mile (4:27.95), sophomore Wil Asamoah (Edison, NJ) placed 10^th in the 60m hurdles (8.28) and 21^st in the 60m dash (7.06), sophomore Christopher Reubel (Moorestown, N.J/Moorestown) placed 13^th in the 200 with a personal record time of 22.46, junior Darien Edwards (South Orange/St. Benedict's) placed 11^th in the 800 (1:56.45), freshman Christin Patrick (East Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep.) was 14^th in the high jump (6'4.25”) and senior Andrew Pozo (Forked River, N.J./Toms River HS South) was 10^th in the wt. throw (51'4.25”).

The Broncs compete at Princeton Saturday.  “We will look to make some adjustments this week so we can improve on our performances this week at Princeton,” Hamer said. 

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