Gillespie, Rojeras, McLaughlin Named Indoor Track & Field Performers of the Week

1/29/2013 7:12:00 PM

MAAC Sports

Edison, NJ - Iona College's Matthew Gillespie and Manhattan College's Mikael Rojeras were named Men's Indoor Track and Field Co-Performers of the Week while Saint Peter's University's Morgan McLaughlin was named the Women's Performer of the Week.

Gillespie, a Graduate Student from Dollar, Scotland, became the third athlete in school history to run a sub-four minute mile with his 3:58.55 effort at the 2013 Terrier Invitational hosted by Boston University. Gillespie led six Gaels in the meet and was first overall in his heat winning by nearly three and a half seconds. His time was the fifth fastest among the 15 sections and 1714 competitors in the event. All four competitors to finish ahead of him competed in the "elite" section. He was the second collegiate finisher, .44 seconds behind Northeastern's Eric Jenkins. Gillespie joins teammate Mitch Goose and former Gael Richard Kiplagat as Iona runners to finish the mile in less than four minutes.

Rojeras, a 6-0 junior from Sala, Sweden, won three events in just over two hours on Saturday to lead the Jaspers to their first team title at the Metropolitan Indoor Championships since 2008. Approximately 90 minutes after winning the mile in 4:15.47, Rojeras returned to the track for the 800 meters - and led a 1-2 Manhattan finish in the event. His time of 1:52.22 is the top mark in the IC4A this season. Rojeras then ran the anchor leg on the Jaspers' victorious 4x800 meter relay squad, which also qualified for IC4A Championships with a 7:45.53 clocking.

 

McLaughlin, a 5-4 freshman from Dunellen, New Jersey, led the Saint Peter's women's indoor track and field team to a third place finish at the Metropolitan Championships this weekend. The third place finish was the program's highest ever finish at the meet in school history. McLaughlin won the 60m hurdles and broke former Saint Peter's athlete Ronnah Parham's school record. Her time of 8.69 was also an ECAC qualifying time.

 

The MAAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held on Friday, February 15th at The New Balance Armory Track & Field Center in New York City.