College Track and Field
Rider at Widener's Chester Quarry Classic / Bison Classic
Mateescu 5K Rider Record
CHESTER, Pa.—The Rider University men's and women's track and field teams competed at the Chester Quarry Classic, hosted by Widener University on Saturday with the Bronc squad winning 12 events and posting three IC4A qualifiers. The Bronc squad also sent several members of the team to compete at the two-day Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic and brought home an ECAC qualifier and a Rider 5K record.
“We won a fair amount of events today at Widener which was great,” said head coach Bob Hamer. “The throwers in particular had a great meet.”
For the Bronc men, freshman Alvin Abraham (Egg Harbor/Egg Harbor Township) won the 400 meter (49.42) and the 200 meter (22.44).
“Alvin had a big day today,” said Hamer. “It is a big transition from high school to college and today effort will hopefully give him confidence moving forward.”
For the Rider women at Bucknell, senior Nicolette Mateescu (Kendall Park/South Brunswick) ran the 5000 in a Rider record and ECAC qualifying time of 16:49.31, finishing eighth.
"That was a great effort by Nikki," Hamer said. "She lays it all on the line every time she competes and she is on a great roll right now. Her goal was going after the record tonight. She is committed and dedicated to excellence and is a pleasure to coach and work with every day."
Also at Widener for the Rider men, senior Justin Veltri (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) won the 100 meter in an IC4A qualifying time of 10.97, junior Devon Jefferson (Franklin Park/Franklin) won the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 54.66, senior Charles Wilks (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) won the discus with an IC4A qualifying distance of 49.22 meters, Erik Adamcik (Hampton/North Hunterdon) posted the winning height in the pole vault (4.65 meters), sophomore Shabazz Shuler (Long Branch) won the long jump (6.71 meters) and junior Kyle Bryant (Cherry Hill/Cherry Hill HS East) won the triple jump (14.25 meters).
“Wilks had a great toss in the discus,” Hamer said. “We expect big things from Chazz and he stepped up today.”
For the Rider women at Widener, senior Daria Chadwick (Summit) won the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.61, senior Nicole Georgia (Lincoln Park/Boonton) was a winner in the 400 meter hurdles (1:02.85) and sophomore Karoline Sandvig (West Windsor/West Windsor Plainsboro HS South) threw the winning distance in the hammer (48.13 meters).
“Nicole had a big race in the hurdles,” Hamer said. “Her 400 hurdle PR is from her rookie season and this year she is making great strides to eclipse that.”
Sophomore Christin Patrick (East Orange/Seton Hall Prep) posted an IC4A qualifying mark in the 110 meter hurdles (14.75), finished in second place at Widener.
“Christian ran a great hurdles race,” Hamer said. “We need him to be an impactful athlete for the team to be successful.”
Also for the Bronc women at Widener, freshman Ashley Berry (Somerset/Franklin) was the top attached finisher in the shot put (13.56 meters) and she posted the second highest attached mark in the discus (41.94 meters).
“Ashley was fantastic,” Hamer said. “She is stepping up her game.”
The men's 4x100 relay of Abraham, Shuler, freshman Dean Clarke (Melbourne, Fla./Eau Gallie) and Veltri won with a time of 42.95.
“Veltri was great running the anchor on the 4x1 and also posting the IC4A qualifying time in the 100,” Hamer said.
On Saturday at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic, for the Rider men, senior Sam Knipper (Randolph) placed 11th in the unseeded 1500 meter race (3:56.84), sophomore Danniel Belay (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) was 17th in the 3000 steeplechase (9:28.20), senior Jon Knipper (Randolph) placed 38th in the 3000 steeplechase (9:46.21), senior Tom McLaughlin (Egg Harbor/Egg Harbor Township) was 44th in the 1500 meter (3:57.90) and junior Johnathan Jackson (Roselle/Magnet) was 51st in the 1500 with a time of 4:00.04.
Also for the Bronc women at Bucknell, sophomore Rae Santora (Douglasville, Pa./Daniel Boone) was 22nd in the 3000 steeplechase (11:27.67), senior Stephanie Welte (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Basil's Academy) was 23rd in the 1500 (4:34.92) and junior Megan McGarrity (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Basil's Academy) finished 51st in the 1500 (4:46.31).
"Welte ran a great race tonight," Hamer said. "She is really stepping up for us big time this year. Overall we had some great performances tonight. The goal was to give the distance runners a chance to race and compete at a high level and we achieved that."
Rider competes in the 3000 meter for the women and the men's 800 meter at Bucknell on Sunday.
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