WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University men's and women's track and field programs kicked off their 2023 outdoor season this weekend when they hosted the 27^th annual Monmouth Spring Opener at Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, NJ.

Seven individual Hawks won events, not including a victory for Monmouth in the men's 4x100m relay. Alexander Kislenko, Ahmad Brock, Abdul Azeez Adedokun, and James Burrus Jr. combined for a time of 41.61, which also happens to be the ninth-fastest time run by a group of Hawks in the event.

Declan McDonnell won the men's 800m with a time of 1:54.94, while Nico Grilli (1:56.46) and Seb Reed (1:56.54) claimed third and fourth place, respectively. Keven Kevelier carried over his momentum from the indoor season to win the men's high jump by clearing the 2.00m bar, as did Dalton Yeust, the 2023 CAA Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, in the pole vault. Yeust cleared the bar at 4.85m, winning the event, and Connor Bennett placed third at 4.75m. In the first men's javelin event of the year for MU, Chris Bagnell placed first with a throw of 62.41m, and Taylor Boorse came in third at 58.36m.

On the women's side, Giulia Pezzolla won the steeplechase with a time of 11:28.77. McKenzie Delahanty ran a strong 5000m race, placing first with a time of 17:24.17 (fourth all-time). Vanessa Wood collected the win in the shot put with a throw of 13.62m (tenth all-time), while Natalie Rolon-Issa placed third finishing with a throw of 12.97m.
 
Yasmeen Tinsley and Abby Boggs also set PRs and cracked the Top Ten list. Tinsley ran the fifth-fastest women's 100m at 12.11 and the thenth-best 400m at 56.07. Boggs upped her previous outdoor best in the women's pole vault with a new clearance of 3.45m, tied for the sixth-best in school history.

EVENT WINNERS
Men's 800m: Declan McDonnell – 1:54.94
Men's 4x100m Relay: Kislenko, Brock, Adedokun, Burrus – 41.61
Men's High Jump: Keven Kevelier – 2.00m
Men's Javelin: Chris Bagnell – 62.41m
Men's Pole Vault: Dalton Yeust – 4.85m
Women's Steeplechase: Giulia Pezzolla – 11:28.77
Women's 5000m: McKenzie Delahanty – 17:24.17
Women's Shot Put: Vanessa Wood – 13.62m
 
ALL-TIME TOP-TENS
Men's 4x100m Relay: Kislenko, Brock, Adedokun, Burrus – 41.61, ninth
Women's 100m: Yasmeen Tinsley – 12.11, fifth
Women's 400m: Yasmeen Tinsley – 56.07, tenth
Women's 5000m: McKenzie Delahanty – 17:24.17, fourth
Women's Pole Vault: Abby Boggs – 3.45m, tied-sixth
Women's Shot Put: Vanessa Wood – 13.62m, tenth
 
QUOTES
"I'm so glad we were able to host the 27^th annual Monmouth Spring Opener. Earlier in the week, it wasn't looking so good with the weather that was predicted. Everyone came together, and we were able to switch our meet from Saturday to Sunday. Our event management staff did an outstanding job with all the moving parts of making that switch happen. We're grateful for all their hard work.

Overall, I thought our student-athletes had an excellent first meet. We got the 2023 outdoor track and field season rolling on a positive note. We're looking forward to our next meet at UPenn. Fly Hawks!" – Head Coach Mike Nelson
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks resume competition on Saturday, April 1, at the Big 5 and Friends Invitational hosted by UPenn in Philadelphia, PA.