College Track and Field
at 139th IC4A/32nd ECAC Championships – Day Three
Men's 4x800 Breaks 19-year Rider Record to earn All-East
Solujich and Harmon All-East
PRINCETON—The Rider University men's and women's track and field teams competed at the 139th annual IC4A Track and Field Championships and the 32nd ECAC Track and Field Championships, hosted by Princeton University at Weaver Stadium May 15-17.
Overall for the weekend, Rider earned All-East in five events with four Rider records set. There were five all-time top 10 performances and seven personal records 'PRs' set.
On Sunday for the Rider men, freshman Anfernee Joseph (Somerset/Franklin), junior Darien Edwards (South Orange/St. Benedict's), junior Tom McLaughlin (Egg Harbor) and sophomore Johnathan Jackson (Roselle/Magnet) broke a 19-year old Rider record in the 4x800 relay, with a time of 7:29.33 to place runner-up and earn All-East honors. The team ran 7:37.11 on Saturday to qualify for the finals.
“The day ended on a great note with the 4x800 running a great race to place runner-up and break the Rider record,” said head coach Bob Hamer. “Each guy ran a great leg. It was a great moment for the program.”
The old record was 7:30.26 (Loughran, Lampert, Breeden, McKithen), set in 1996.
Also on Sunday, for the Rider men, senior George Solujich (East Windsor/Notre Dame) earned All-East in the shot put (55'1.50”), placing sixth.
“George had a tough day,” said Hamer. “He's been good all year but just didn't have that big throw he was looking for. He had a great career and has certainly set the bar high for everyone.”
On Sunday for the Rider women, senior Taylor Harmon (Robbinsville) tied for sixth in the high jump with a height of 5'5.75”, earning All-East honors and freshman Stephanie Lombardo (Buffalo, N.Y./Cheektowaga) was 13th in the shot put (42'6”) after finishing 14th in the discus with a throw of 137'7” on Friday.
“Taylor jumped well today and just missed at 5-7,” Hamer said. “She has had a great career and has been great in some big moments. For her to get another All-East honor is a great accomplishment.”
On Saturday for the Rider men, senior Andrew Pozo (Forked River/Toms River HS South) set a Rider record in the hammer throw 184'11”, finishing 11th and he was 27th in the discus (135'0”).
Junior Charles Wilks (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) was 15th in the discus (155'11”), sophomore Devon Jefferson (Franklin Park/Franklin) was 18th in the 110 hurdles (14.80), sophomore Wil Asamoah (Edison) was 22nd in the 110 hurdles (14.86) and freshman Christin Patrick (East Orange/Seton Hall Prep.) finished 29th in the 110 hurdles (15.10).
For the Bronc women on Saturday, junior Madeline Hummel (Marlton/Holy Cross), junior Stephanie Welte (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Basil's Academy), sophomore Juliann Brand (Egg Harbor) and freshman Victoria Brewer (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) finished 17th in the 4x800 relay with a time of 9:10.79.
On Friday for the Bronc women, senior Emily Ritter (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) ran the 3000 steeplechase in a Rider record time of 9:55.15, placing second to earn All-East honors. Ritter's time in the 3000 SC is eighth best nationally this season.
Junior Nicolette Mateescu (Kendall Park/South Brunswick) placed runner-up in the 10,000 with a Rider record time of 35:10.73, missing first place by exactly two seconds, also earning All-East honors.
For the Rider men on Friday, senior Dylan Hallahan (Wrightstown/Northern Burlington Regional) graduated in the morning and then wrapped his Rider career with a personal best 9:08.91 in the 3000 steeplechase, placing 15th.
Senior Anthony Dentino (Sewell/Washington Township) ran 31:37.72 in the 10,000, placing 17th.
Ritter will compete at the NCAA East Regional May 28-30 in Jacksonville, Florida, the second year in a row that she has qualified for the regional. Last year, Ritter was 45th with a time of 10:53.99 in the steeplechase.
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