BOSTON, MA - Senior Kyle Poetsch (Sayreville, NJ/Mater Dei) and sophomore Brian Spolarich (Oxford, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) both set new Rider records in the weight throw and 5000m respectively as the Rider University men's track and field team began competing at the 2020 Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships at Boston University.

On his third throw, Poetsch threw for 18.05m, which broke John Clark's 10-year-old record of 17.83m. Not to be outdone, Spolarich outpaced a 35-year-old record held by Bill Lipkus (14:32.70) by running the 5,000m in 14:29.77.

Sophomore Michael Mazzei (Monroe, NJ/Bishop Ahr) won the prelim for the 1,000m (2:25.11) and the 4x800m relay team of freshman Derian Stianche (Tamaque, PA/Tamaque Area), sophomore Kevin Heredia (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), junior Scott Ruskan (Oxford, NJ/Warren Hills Regional), and senior Tom Long (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) finished 4th in the prelim with a time of 7:34.29. The distance medley relay team of freshman Richie Castaneda (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic), junior Tyler Gowdy (Irvington, NJ/Roselle Catholic), freshman Tehj Rollins (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris), and junior Danny Daurio (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) qualified for tomorrow's final with an eighth-place time of 10:11.04.

QUOTES & NOTES:
"We had some great performances today highlighted by two Rider records. We came here with a goal of growing our success and today we definitely accomplished that goal." - Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer

"I am so excited and proud of Poetsch. He has been such a steady performer for us every week. He has worked so hard for this moment and it was great to see him have this opportunity." - Hamer

"We started slow on the track today, but things really heated up with one great performance after another. Mazzei ran great to make the final in the 1,000 and put himself into position for a great result tomorrow." - Hamer

"Spolarich finally had the race that matched his fitness. He broke a Rider record that had stood for 35 years. It was the oldest record still standing. His breakthrough is an example of howe you need to keep plugging away and believing in yourself and you can accomplish some great things." - Hamer

UP NEXT
The Broncs look to finish strong at Day 2 of IC4As tomorrow with action beginning bright and early at 9:30 am.