WILLIAMSBURG, VA. - The Monmouth University men's and women's track and field teams finished sixth and seventh, respectively, at the final day of competition Saturday at the Colonial Relays hosted by William and Mary. The men's squad earned an IC4A qualifying mark from the 4x100 meter relay team, while the women's 4x1500 meter relay squad shattered the school mark.
"We really enjoy this meet because we see some of the best teams in the east," said head coach Joe Compagni. "To finish among the top teams only two weeks into the season is a sign for good things to come."
Bucknell took first registering 129.90 points followed by Temple which finished with 74.20 points. Villanova posted 60 tallies to claim third followed by Virginia Tech with 55. In-state rival Rutgers finished ahead of the Hawks in fifth with 53.20 points, while the Hawks posted 46 points. Rider (42 points), Detroit Mercy (39 points), Harvard (37 points) and William and Mary (34 points) rounded out the top-10 of the 35 team field.
The relay team of senior Zachary Krupka (Allentown, Pa./Allentown), junior Geoff Navarro (Mays Landing, N.J./Absegami), seniors Jason Kelsey (Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco Prep), and Eric Fay (Yatesville, Pa./Pittston Area) ran a IC4A Championships qualifying mark of 42.39 to earn fourth.
Navarro ran 11.18 in the 100 meter dash finals, good for fourth, while Krupka took sixth with a time of 11.33.
Junior Joshua Lewis (Montville, N.J./Montville Township), senior Dan Fitzpatrick (Manasquan, N.J./Red Bank Catholic), rookie Joe DiBianca (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) and sophomore Ford Palmer (Smithville, N.J./Absegami) crossed the finish line in 3:33.21 in the 1600 sprint medley to claim fifth.
Freshman Robbie Robinson (Skillman, N.J./Montgomery) along with Fay, classmate Jalen Walker (Burlington, N.J./BCIT/Burlington Township) and Krupka took seventh in the 4x200 meter relay, registering a time of 1:30.23.
Senior Tom Ciccoli (King of Prussia, Pa/Archbishop Carroll) threw 140' 2" in the discus to finish eighth.
Villanova earned the top spot for the women's side, totaling 116.20 points followed by Duquesne with 62. Bucknell and Georgetown finished four points apart, taking third and fourth, compiling 59 and 55 points, respectively. Rutgers earned fifth with 51.20 followed by Navy with 44 tallies, 2.2 ahead of the Hawks with 42.20. West Virginia and Northeast Conference rival Long Island shared eighth place each with 38.20 points trailed by Richmond with 38 points who earned tenth in the 40-team field.
The 4x1500 meter relay team consisting of junior Jen Nelson (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat), sophomore Amanda Eller (Delmont, N.J./Millville), senior Christine Altland (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) and rookie Lucia Montefusco (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) earned fourth while rewriting the MU record books as their time of 19:15.91 erases the school record mark of 20:02.60 set in 2009.
Junior Esteem Winder (Philadelphia, Pa./Carver), rookie Mercedes Yanora (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer Wilkes-Barre), seniors Ashley Cuvilly (Uniondale, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and Michelle Losey (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) crossed the finish line in the 4x100 meter relay in 48.46, good for fourth.
Winder also lead the 1600 sprint medley squad consisting of juniors Colleen Rutecki (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), Lindsey Walsh (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) and sophomore Danielle Toritto (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) which took fifth posting a time of 4:12.60.
Both men's and women's teams return to action next Saturday, April 9th, at the Rutgers Invitational.
