ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Monmouth University's senior thrower Vincent Elardo (Forked River, N.J./Lacey) finished eighth at the USA Track & Field 2011 Indoor Championships, Sunday evening. Elardo, one of four Hawks to in school history to qualify for the U.S. Indoor Championships, threw 56'5.75".
Throwing against several of the world's best shot putters, Elardo threw 55' 4.75" on his first attempt to start the competition in sixth place. His third throw of 56' 0" placing him in seventh, allowing him to advance to the finals. In the fifth round, eventual champion Ryan Whiting, last year's NCAA champion now competing for Nike, hit 70' 0.75" which is the longest throw in the world this year. Elardo's sixth throw, his best toss of the event, allowed him to be the top collegiate finisher at the U.S. Championships.
"It is a great experience for one of our athletes to compete against the best in the world at a national championship," said head coach Joe Compagni. " He represented Monmouth very well and he and Coach [Abe] Flores have a lot to be proud of."
Elardo qualified for the U.S. Championships at the Great Dane Classic in January where he threw for 60' 1", a new meet record. In the same meet, he hit 60' 8.5" in the weight throw, making him the first Monmouth thrower and one of just three Division I athletes in the country to throw over 60' in both events.
At the Northeast Conference Championships two weeks ago, the local product won both the shot put and weight throw, earning NEC Most Valuable Field Performer for the second year in a row. Elardo is currently ranked among the top 20 among NCAA Division I throwers in the shot put. Selections for the NCAA Championships will be made next Monday after one more weekend of competition for all athletes.
Previous Monmouth athletes from Monmouth to compete at the U.S. Indoor Championships include Division I All-Americans Jon Kalnas (shot put) and Tisifenee Taylor (long jump) as well as Ashley Huffman (pentathlon).
Elardo and Hawks will return to action at the IC4A and ECAC Division I Championships next weekend in Boston, Massachusetts where Monmouth has athletes qualified in every event area.