Rider Men, Women Surge to 2013 Outdoor Track Crowns
MAAC Sports
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University men’s and women’s track teams swept the 2013 MAAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held at Rider University’s Outdoor Track and Field Complex. Both Broncs’ teams were in the lead following the first day of action, and increased their margins as the final day of competition unfolded. The Broncs men’s team claimed their second overall MAAC Outdoor Championship and their first since 2011, while the Rider women won its third Outdoor Championship and its first since 2007.
The Rider men tallied 242 points to claim the men’s title. Manhattan was runnerup with 185, followed by Saint Peter’s (98.50), Iona (81) and Marist (39.50). Following Rider (252.50) in the women’s standings were runnerup Saint Peter’s (226.50), Manhattan (117), Iona (104), Loyola Maryland (74) and Marist (33).
Rider’s La’tazah Coleman enjoyed an outstanding day, winning the 100 and 200 events, and as a member of the gold medal 4X100 relay team. Coleman won the women’s 100 meters in 12.12, defeating defending champ Ashley Bowman of Manhattan, who was second in 12.25. Coleman won the 200 in 24.74. The Rider women’s 4X100 relay team of Dashan Ransome, Mia Riley, Miranda Roberts and Coleman took that event in 47.76. Coleman also tied for second in the high jump.
Wilvenson Baptiste of Rider won both the men’s 100 and 200 meter events, and was a member of the Broncs’ winning 4X100 relay team. Baptiste, who was runnerup in the 100 meters last year, posted a winning time of 10.98, edging Abdias Myrtil of Manhattan who finished in 11.02. Baptiste then won the 200 meters in 21.66. The Rider men’s 4X100 relay team, comprised of James Burroughs, Anthony DeFranco, Baptiste and David Hightower, won the event in 42.08.
Rider’s Dashana Ransome set both meet and school records by winning the women’s 100 meter hurdles in 14:09, eclipsing the record of 14:13 set by Saint Peter’s Ronnah Parham in 2011. Saint Peter’s Renee Brzyski (14:17) and Morgan McLaughlin (14:25) finished second and third.
Rider dominated the men’s 110 meter hurdles, led by Hightower, who won the event in a meet record 14.24. Hightower bested his own record that he set two years ago, 14.39. Teammates James Burroughs (14.79) and Matthew Millemann (15.13) finished second and third.
Saint Peter’s junior Isaiah Harris, who won the long jump on the first day of competition, took his second and third championships of the MAAC Outdoor championships on Day Two with a victory in the high jump and a record setting win in the triple jump. Harris set the meet record in the triple jump with a leap of 15.33, and also successfully defended his high jump title with a leap of 2.09 meters.
Shona Potrzuski of Saint Peter’s won the women’s 400 meters in a time of 56.58. Potrzuski also won the women’s 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:01.58, and was a member of the Peacocks’ gold medal winning 4X400 meter relay team. The Peacocks won the relay in 3:49.19.
Regina Neumeyer of Iona won her second gold of the 2013 MAAC Championships by taking the 800 meters in 2:12.87. Neumeyer, who was runnerup in last year’s 800 meters, won the 3000 women’s steeplechase on the first day of competition.
Manhattan’s Greg Perrier successfully defended his title in the 800 meters with a time of 1:51.23, just edging Greg Wesh of Marist, who finished in 1:51.49. Perrier was also a member of Manhattan’s gold medal winning 4X400 meter relay team. The Jaspers won the event in 3:17.10.
Marion Joly-Testault of Iona also defended her title in the women’s 5,000 meter run with a time of 17:08.18. Kiera Harrison of Loyola was the runnerup in 17:35.58, after finishing 13th in last year’s event. Katie Messina of Marist was third in 17:44.43, after finishing 12th last year.
Manhattan went 1-2 in the men’s shot put as Ian McGinnis claimed first with a throw of 15.62 meters, while Rokas Kirlys had a throw of 15.55 meters. The Jaspers also took the women’s shot put as Alina Koenigs won the event with a toss of 13.01 meters.
Iona’s Nicole Cochran won the women’s 1500 meter run in 4:30.97, followed by teammate Kirsten Stewart in 4:31.49. Iona picked up 14 points in the event by also claiming 5th and 7th places. Iona went 1-2-3 in the 1500 meter men’s event, paced by Mitch Goose, who finished first in 3:48.86. The Gaels’ Daniel Clorely was second in 3:51.6, followed by Kieran Clements at 3:54.11.
Defending champion Lauryn Strebeck of Rider won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 11.58 meters. Saint Peter’s picked up 26 points in the event by finishing 2-3-4-5-6.
Kevin Persson of St. Peter’s won the men’s 400 in 48.8, followed by Sheldon Derenoncourt of Manhattan in 49.11. Rider’s Dave Brown was third in 49.51, and teammate Darien Edwards was fourth in 49.81.
Brian McGovern of Manhattan re-established his own meet record in the men’s pole vault, with a vault of 5.20 meters. His effort bested his previous record of 5.06 meters, set last year. Manhattan picked up 25 team points in the men’s pole vault by finishing 1-2-4-5-6 in the event.
Rider picked up 22 team points in the women’s high jump behind Taylor Harmon’s first place effort of 1.61 meters. Coleman tied for second with Manhattan’s Andrea Nyback (1.61), while Daria Chadwick was fourth.
Rider took the top four spots in the men’s 400 meter hurdles, collecting 28 team points. James Burroughs was the individual winner for the Broncs, in a time of 53.78.
Iona took 25 team points in the men’s 5000 meters, taking places 1-2-4-5-6. Matthew Gillespie was the pacesetter for the Gaels, winning the event in 14:26.32. The Gaels’ Matt Bayley was second in 14:32.
Saint Peter’s won both the men’s and women’s discus throws. Ieshawn Johnson’s effort of 50.38 meters won the men’s event while Cherrice Brown won the women’s with a toss of 37.16 meters.
Manhattan’s Melissa Yap capped the afternoon by winning the women’s pole vault, the final event of the day. Yap vaulted 3.42 meters, besting teammate Sarah Moore’s runnerup showing of 3.12.