Landover, Md.- In a bid for their straight conference title, Monmouth University's men's track and field team currently sits in first after the opening day of the 2007 Northeast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday.
Monmouth's throwers took three of the top five spots in the shot put with Nick Williams (Adamstown, Md./Urbana) taking first with a toss of 55' 9 3/4". Christian Keller (Matawan, N.J./Matawan was third with a throw of 53' 4 1/2" and Kyle Hirschklau (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) was fifth with a toss 51' 4 1/2".
Graduate student Craig Segal (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) finished third in the 3,000m (8:40.55), while Martin Suarez III (Burlington, N.J./Holy Cross) finished fifth in the event, crossing the line at 8:47.27. Dan Tamburini (West Long Branch, N.J./Ocean City) was sixth in the pole vault with a vault of 13' 3 1/2" while junior Jude Rene (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton North) also had a sixth place finish in the high jump with a leap of 21' 4 1/2".
Monmouth will be in good shape to win that third straight championship as Chris Taiwo (Budd Lake, N.J./Mt. Olive) and Fabrice St. Elme (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) both qualified for the finals of the 60m. Darrin Chandler (Hackensack, N.J./Paramus Catholic) found his way to the finals of the 400m, while Christopher Vuono (Wall, N.J./CBA) and Derrik Keich (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua) are set to compete for the 500m championship. Ryan Madrid (Clifton, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and Larry Schau (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) made it to the finals of 1 mile.
Rene will compete for the title in the 60m high hurdles while the Hawks will have three runners in the finals of the 800m including Dave Gaines (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck), Bill Doherty (Madison, N.J./Madison) and Madrid.
"We had some great moments and disappointments in today's portion of the meet," said head coach Joe Compagni. "A good portion of the meet will be run tomorrow and we should be in position to compete for the championship."
The Hawks have an eight point lead over Sacred Heart, who is currently in second place. Competition will resume at 9:30 on Sunday morning.
