WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.-? After day one of the 2009 Northeast Conference Track & Field Championships, both Monmouth's men's and women's teams held the top spot as the Hawks look to capture their first outdoor titles since 2007.
“We had some great moments and some disappointments on day one,” said Head Coach Joe Compagni.? “We are going to need a great effort on the second day if we hope to win the championship.”
Monmouth's women's team holds a 10 point lead over second place Sacred Heart, with 50 points after six events scored.? The men scored 58 team points in the first day, a 15 point lead over second place St. Francis (Pa.).
The Blue & White men's squad dominated the discus, with Hawks taking first, third, fourth and fifth.? Senior Chris Keller (Matawan, N.J./Matawan) won the event by over seven feet, registering an IC4A qualifying mark of 163' 10”.? Larry Lundy (Friendsville, Pa./Montrose Area) came in third (153' 5”), Vincent Elardo's (Forked River, N.J./Lacey) throw of 151' 09” was fourth and fifth place went to junior Shawn Sabo (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) (149' 3”). ?
Sophomore Mary Wilks (Bridgeton, N.J./Bridgeton) won the javelin with her throw of 134' 4”, while Rachel Ferdinand (Voorhees, N.J./Califon) was fourth (117' 7”) and freshman Valerie Carney (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) earned three team points with her sixth place throw of 113' 1”.? Christine Altland (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) claimed the silver medal in the days first event, finishing the 10000m with a time of 37:50.23.
In the final women's race of the day, Monmouth's 4x800 relay team of Danica Krivanos (Bound Brook, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), Aracelis Lantigua (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), Laura Embrey (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) and Cailin Lynam (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) took second place, crossing the tape in 9:23.98.
Junior Victor Rizzotto (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) claimed the silver medal in the javelin with his IC4A qualifying mark of 199' 07”.? Matt Mizerek and Marion Easley (Somerville, N.J./Somerville) also scored in the event, with Mizerek throwing 180' 06” for fourth and Easley's toss of 178' 3” earning fifth place. ?
The Hawks also got a second place finish out of freshman Stevenson Cajuste (Egg Harbor, N.J./Egg Harbor) Sophomore Ben Hutterer (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) took home third place in the 10000m, crossing the finish time in a time of 31:59.23.
MU freshman Amanda Root (Greentown, Pa./Wallenpaupack) earned six team points with her third place throw of 130' 9”.? ??Monmouth's Laura Myers (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) and Christine Fatale (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial) tied for fourth place in the pole vault after clearing 10' 2”.? Freshman Michelle Telofski (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) placed after clearing 9' 10', which was eighth place.
Monmouth will have athletes competing in the finals of a number of races tomorrow, including the 100m and 110m hurdles, the 1500m, 400m, ?800m, 400m hurdles, 200m and a variety of field events.
The action picks up tomorrow with the triple jump at 9:30 a.m. with the track events starting at 12 p.m.
NEC FIRST TEAM
Chris Keller (Discus)
Mary Wilks (Javelin)
NEC SECOND TEAM
4x800 Relay (Danica Krivanos, Aracelis Lantigua, Laura Embrey, Cailin Lynam
Christine Altland (10000m)
Stevenson Cajuste (Long Jump)
Victor Rizzotto (Javelin)
Amanda Root (Discus)
