LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Two crews from the Monmouth University men's and women's track and field teams traveled to Lakewood, N.J. this past Friday and Saturday to compete at the Georgian Court University Lion Opener. Members of both the MU throwing and long distance teams battled against GCU, Saint Peter's and NJIT in the first meet of the 2010 outdoor track and field season.
"We were glad to be able to help Georgian Court open their new facility," said Hawks Head Coach Joe Compagni. "This was a chance for our throwers and a few of the distance runners to get a jump on the outdoor season and they made the most of the opportunity."
The Hawks throwing crew all but monopolized the field in the first ever trip to the Georgian Court tune up event. On Friday, newcomer Allyson Cardullo (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) led the way for MU in the javelin, earning a medalist win with a throw of 40 meters. On the men's side, fellow freshman Vincent DuVernois (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) topped the competition in the first showing of his career with a toss of 179' 3". Seniors Marion Easley (Somerville, N.J./Somerville), Eric Paul (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East), Matt Mizerek (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) and Michael Smith (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) finished second through fifth as the Hawks dominated the rest of the field in javelin.
Fresh off of an impressive indoor season that included being named NEC Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Indoor Championships and All-East honors, junior Vincent Elardo (Forked River, N.J./Lacey) opened up the outdoor season with a win in discus with a final mark of 150' 3".
In addition to the throwers opening up their outdoor season, a handful of distance runners took to the track to finish their first races of the 2010 season. Freshman Stacey Lepes (Branchville, N.J./High Point Regional) finished second in the women's 1500 meter run with a time of 5:09.3, while sophomore Cody Kulik (Howell, N.J./Howell) received his first career win in the men's 1500.
Then on Saturday morning, the Hawks throwers returned to make a strong early season statement for MU as the hammer and shot put events were held at Monmouth. Elardo won the hammer with a 187' 9" effort, with senior teammate Larry Lundy (Friendsville, Pa./Montrose Area) taking second overall with a mark of 172' 9". Fresh off of his U.S. rankings in shot put, Lundy finished first overall in his signature event (54' 4') narrowly out throwing Elardo who finished second with a toss of 52' 8.25".
On the women's side, Monmouth took the top eight spots overall in the hammer throw. Sophomore Symmone Fisher (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) won the event with a throw of 163' 6" while senior Kelly Dantley (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) opened up her final season with a top-mark of 158' 3" to finish second. Seniors Samantha Hegmann (Mineola, N.Y./Mineola) and Laura Ankrom (Prospect, Pa./Butler) finished third and fourth. In the shot put, the Hawks crew took four of the top five places with freshman Sandra Jean-Romain (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) earning the medalist with a 42' 0.5" effort. Fisher finished second (40'10.25") with Dantley and sophomore Jessica Toritto (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) ending the weekend fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Blue and White throwers and distance runners will join the rest of the team as MU opens up the outdoor season on Friday and Saturday, March 26-27 when it hosts the 15th Annual Monmouth Season Opener on the E. Murray Todd Track at Kessler Field. Friday's weight throwing event starts at 2:00 p.m. while all other events start on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
