WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (May 23, 2012) – The Monmouth University track and field program will send nine student-athletes to take part in the 2012 NCAA East Regional Championships at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, this weekend. Monmouth's nine athletes earned 11 qualifying spots in six different events at the meet, as junior Rachel Watkins (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) earned spots in both the 400 hurdles and high jump, and senior Vincent Elardo (Forked River, N.J./Lacey) qualified in the hammer throw and shot put.

Joining Watkins as Monmouth women's competitors this weekend are senior Lindsey Walsh (Mount Laurel, N.J. /Lenape) in the high jump, and senior Jennifer Nelson (Barnegat, N.J. /Barnegat) in the 10,000 meter run.

Alongside Elardo in the shot put are sophomore Errol Jeffrey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Transit Tech [Bronx CC]), senior Tom Ciccoli (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carrol) and junior Shane Carle (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial), while junior Vincent DuVernois (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and freshman Zach Torrell (Manahawkin, N.J./Lacey) will compete in the javelin.

The East Region showcases over 2,000 athletes from more than 200 Division I schools, and with nine athletes, Monmouth has one of the largest contingents of qualifiers from schools in the Northeast and biggest group from the Northeast Conference.

"We are excited to have earned 11 spots at the First Round of NCAAs," stated head track and field coach Joe Compagni. "This is a strong group that has represented Monmouth very well in big meets this year."

Watkins, who qualified for a pair of events, was the only Northeast Conference athlete to break the minute-mark in the 400 hurdles, registering a 59.98 at the IC4A/ECAC Championships earlier this month, which also set a new school-record. Watkins, who was the top high jumper in the conference as well, leapt 5' 9.75" (1.77m) at the Moravian Greyhound Invitational in April to earn a spot. In 2012, Watkins earned All-East accolades in the high jump and 400 hurdles.

"Rachel, Lindsey [Walsh] and Alison Day gave us a great trio in the high jump this year," added Compagni. "In the 400 hurdles, we have had several get very close to breaking 60 seconds but Rachel was the first one to do it."

Walsh, who finished second at the NEC Championships, earned a mark of 5' 9.25" (1.76m) at the IC4A/ECAC Championships. Walsh, a seven-time All-East performer in high jump, heptathlon and pentathlon, qualified for NCAA First Round in the high jump in 2011.

"Lindsey has had a great four years and improved every year," commented Compagni. "Last spring and this spring, she qualified for NCAAs in the high jump at the ECAC Championships during the heptathlon."

Nelson, the 2012 Monmouth University Female Athlete of the Year and Northeast Conference Champion in both the 10,000m and 5,000m runs, qualified in the 10k with her time of 35:33.47 at the ECAC/IC4As. Nelson, who held the top time in the 10,000m run in the league, bested the conference field by over 25 seconds on the year, and was a four-time All-East performer in both cross country and track.

"Even after winning both the 5k and 10k at the NECs, Jen wanted to race the 10k at ECACs to improve her chances of getting into NCAAs," noted Compagni. "And at the ECACs she broke her own school-record and raced very tough to move up the list and earn a spot."

On the men's side, the quartet of shot putters held the top-four slots in the NEC field on the year, as Elardo leads the group with his No. 11 ranking in the region. Elardo, who earned a mark of 60' 10.75" (18.56m) in the shot put, also qualified for the NCAAs in the hammer with a throw of 194' 0" (59.14m) at the Rider Invitational in mid-April. Elardo, who also held the top mark in the conference in the discus during the campaign, was named the 2012 Monmouth University Male Athlete of the Year, joining Nelson for one of the department's top individual honors.

Elardo, a 12-time NEC Champion, narrowly missed bids to the NCAAs in 2009 and 2010, finishing 8th and 14th.

Joining Elardo in the shot put are Jeffrey, who finished second at the NEC Outdoor Championships in the shot put with a heave of 58' 0.5" (17.69m), Carle, who claimed third at the NECs with a toss of 57' 1" (17.40m) and Ciccoli, who earned a spot at the ECAC Championships two weeks ago with a personal-best toss of 56' 6.75" (17.24m).

"Vinny and the rest of our shot putters were tremendous at IC4As," stated Compagni. "It is a tribute to their hard work and Coach Flores' work with them that we are one of only two schools (University of Texas) with four shot putters at NCAAs."

DuVernois, a junior All-American in 2010 and the league champion in 2012, led the NEC pack in the javelin on the year, posting a heave of 225' 7" (68.77m) at the Penn Relays, while Torrell, who finished third at the NEC Championships in the javelin, also qualified at the Penn Relays with a throw of 213' 5" (65.04m).

DuVernois finished 12th at this meet last year and advanced to the NCAA Final Round in Iowa, taking 15th to earn second-team All-America honors.

"Vince is the first sophomore we have had to earn All-America and his win last week at ECAC/IC4As is a great sign for sure."

The nine Monmouth competitors will take part in the NCAA Division I Track and Field East Regional Championships for over 200 colleges and universities east of the Mississippi River. There will be over 2,000 athletes representing their institutions at the East site. All East Region schools will compete at the University of North Florida, and all West region schools compete at the University of Texas. 

The top 48 athletes in each event qualified for the NCAA First Round this weekend, while the top-12 finishers in each event from the East Region and the West Region advance to the finals of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa from June 6-9.