HAWKS OPEN OUTDOOR SEASON AT GEORGIA RELAYS

Men's Track and Field March 28, 2009 Monmouth Sports Information

MEN'S TRACK WINS MU SEASON OPENER IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION

West Long Branch, N.J.- Monmouth University's men's track & field team won the 14^th Annual MU Season Opener , sweeping the six other division I teams to improve their dual meet record to 105-1 at Kessler Field

The Hawks defeated Rutgers, Fordham, Quinnipiac, Stony Brook, NJIT and St. Francis (N.Y.) in the dual meet scored system.

“I thought both teams competed very well today,” said head coach Joe Compagni. “The times and marks will improve but it was a very nice early season effort at home.”

The Hawks had nine athletes qualify for post season meets, including Larry Lundy (Friendsville, Pa./Montrose Area) and Chris Keller (Matawan, N.J./Matawan) hitting qualifying marks for the NCAA East Regionals in the shot put. Lundy was the top collegian with a throw of 57' 1 ?”, behind only former Hawk All-American Jon Kalnas. Keller was third with his throw of 55' 2 ?”. The MU onslaught continued in the event, as Vincent Elardo (Forked River, N.J./Lacey) and Tom Ciccoli (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) both hit IC4A qualifying marks and were fourth and fifth, respectively. Shawn Sabo (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and Victor Rizzotto (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) were sixth and seventh in the MU dominated event.

Keller was victorious in the discus, tossing the implement 159' 6”. Elardo was second (156' 4”), Lundy fourth, Sabo fifth and Ciccoli seventh. Both Keller and Elardo earned IC4A bids in the event. Monmouth's 4x100 relay team of David Martell (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern), Geoff Navarro (Mays Landing, N.J./Absegami), Kevin Merrigan (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) and Chris Taiwo (Budd Lake, N.J./Mt. Olive) earned a spot at the IC4As with their winning time of 42.24.

Freshman sensation Chris Rutherford (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) won the 400m hurdles with his time of 54.44, Stevenson Cajuste (Egg Harbor, N.J./Egg Harbor) and Dan Fitzpatrick (Manasquan, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) were fourth and seventh in the 400m hurdles. Rutherford also won the 110 hurdles, racing across the finish line in 15.76. Cajuste claimed fourth (16.24) while senior Chris Tanzola (Long Valley, N.J./Mt. Olive) took fifth. Senior Chris Vuono's (Wall, N.J./CBA) time of 48.31 was second overall and the top collegiate time in the 400m, earning him a trip to the IC4As in May. Merrigan and sophomore Reggie McLeod (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academy) were fifth and sixth in the event.

Navarro won the 100m dash in 11.29 with Martell right on his heels with a second place time of 11.38. Zach Krupka (Allentown, Pa./Allentown) took eighth in the sprint. Vuono, a seasoned vet, won the 200m dash (22.16), with Navarro (22.29) second and Martell fourth (22.80). The sprint medley relay team of Eric Fay (Yatesville, Pa./Pittston Area), Jason Kelsey (Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco), Taiwo and Improta were second in the event, crossing the line in 3:37.40.

The Hawks dominated the top four spots in the pole vault, with Pete Matano (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) winning the event with 13' 5 ?” and Jason Timmons (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) taking second. George Mena (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) was third and Brandon Cabral (Farmingdale, N.J./Colts Neck) claimed fourth place. Amazingly, all four of those Hawks are freshmen.

Freshman John Krajunus (West Keansburg, N.J./Raritan) won the high jump after clearing 6' ?”, while Kollon Reevey (Permberton, N.J./Pemberton) placed second with his mark of 5' 8”. Reevey was third in the long jump (21') with Alex Bowers (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) right behind him in fourth with his mark of 19' 8”. Bowers also took third in the triple jump with a distance of 41' 8”. Evan Mydlowski (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) placed seventh in the 10000m.

The day's final event, the 4x400 relay, found the Hawk squad of Kelsey, Merrigan Reggie McLeod (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academy) and Vuono winning the event with a time of 3:22.97. MU also had the fifth place and the seventh place relay teams.

Ben Hutterer (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) took second overall in the 5000m, trailing only former Hawk Craig Segal. Eric Schaffer (Wall, N.J./Wall) was fourth in the 1500m run (4:07.85) while Ysser Barr and Vin Improta were seventh and eighth, respectively.