May 13, 2007 - at IC4A's - Day Three
May 13, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Track & Field
Rider at 131st IC4A/24th ECAC Championships
Kajunski ECAC High Jump Champion
Men 10th / Women 12th
PRINCETON—Rider University sophomore Kelly Kajunski led the Rider University track and field teams at the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) and ICAAAA Championships on Sunday, winning the high jump competition at the William Weaver Track and Field Stadium on the campus of Princeton University. “It was a fantastic weekend,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello. “Our athletes made the most of a very important opportunity and stepped up to the next level.”
Overall the men's team finished 10th with the women's team placing 12th, the highest finish ever for either team.
Kajunski (Glenmore, Pa./Downington East) posted a mark of 5’10” to take home her second career All-East honor.
“Kelly fed off the performances of David [Payne] and Jazmine [Fenlator],” said Pasquariello. “She proved that she is an NCAA Regional competitor and is ready to take it to a national level. She defeated several athletes who have had national experience.”
“The Cornell girl was an All-American, so beating her was nice,” Kajunski said. “I was feeding off the what Desmond (Hamilton), Jazmine (Fenlator) and DP (David Payne) did. I've been close to this before but I've never been there. I jumped 5'9" in practice indoor, but 5'8.75" was the highest I ever jumped in competition before today. I just listend to my coach. I backed up about eight feet in my apporach to carry more speed to the bar. I'm really happy about getting a 'PR' and another Rider record.”
For the Rider men’s team, senior David Payne (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) picked up his sixth and seventh career All-East honors with a second place finish in the 100m (10.73) and third place finish in the 200m (21.27).
“David was David,” Pasquariello said. “He just continues to post amazing performances.”
Also for the Rider women’s team, senior Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) placed third in the shot put (48’1.25”) for her eighth career All-East honor. Junior Rebecca Clatch (Drums, Pa./Hazelton Area) threw the javelin 141’1”, finishing with All-East honors, placing eighth.
“Jazmine did great,” said Pasquariello. “This was her highest finish ever in the shot and with another two weeks of training, she’ll be ready for the NCAA Regionals. And you can’t overestimate what Jazmine has done to make her teammates better. Her support of Kelly and Rebecca was great and she has blazed a trail for all of our athletes to follow as the meets get bigger. The road that Jaz has traveled has made the competitions that much easier for her teammates. They know what to expect and what they will go through because of what Jazmine has done for them. The kids really followed her lead.”
Senior Katie O’Connor (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Twp.) posted a mark of 5’5” in the high jump with junior Elizabeth Clatch (Drums, Pa./Hazelton Area) posting a mark of 124’7” in the javelin.
“This was by far, the most points that we have scored as a team and our highest finish,” Pasquariello said. “It just shows the type of athletes that we have been able to attract to Rider and that they have stepped up and are ready to perform on a regional and national stage.”
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