May 25, 2007 - at NCAA Regionals
May 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Track & Field
Hamilton Qualifies for Nationals
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — Sophomore Desmond Hamilton (Pennsauken) has qualified for the NCAA National Track & Field Championships in the long jump. “In all of the years that Rider has had track and field, he is only the second person to get to nationals,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.
Hamilton placed fifth in the men’s long jump with a distance of 7.45m (24’5.5”) at the NCAA Regional Championships, hosted by the University of Florida Friday and Saturday in James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track and qualified for the NCAA Championships. “The top five automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships,” Pasquariello said. “Our goal down here was to get to Nationals, and he did that.”
“I wanted to come in first,” said Hamilton, who was the highest seed after a qualifying mark of 7.83m (25’8.75”) made him the top seed in the Regional. “To come in fifth and be just the second Rider athlete to qualify for Nationals is an accomplishment I am very proud of.”
The 2007 NCAA Championships are June 6-9 in Sacramento, California. “I’ve never been to ‘Cali’, and I am looking forward to it,” Hamilton said.
The only other Bronc to ever compete at the NCAA Track & Field Championships was Jose Lopez in the 400m hurdles in 1994. “That was my goal, to qualify for Nationals,” Hamilton said. “By ultimate goal was to place first. Now that will be my goal at Nationals. To put Rider on the map. If I can finish in the top 10, I’ll be an All-American. I’m going to try to win it, but top 10 would be good enough. ”
“For a school our size to get somebody in there is pretty exceptional,” Pasquariello said. “And he has a legitimate chance of becoming an all-American. Out of over 200 Division I track & field programs to be one of the 24 athletes to make it to the National championships is a pretty big accomplishment.”
Also for Rider at the Regionals, sophomore Kelly Kajunski (Glenmore, Pa./Downington East) placed seventh in the women’s high jump at 1.76m (5’9.25”). “Kelly was great today,” Pasquariello said. “Dealing with the pressure that all of these athletes are under down here, for her first time being in this meet, she put herself in the mix.”
Kajunski’s seventh place finish earned her All-Regional honors. “Kelly is the only women who was ever all-regional for Rider,” Pasquariello said.
Senior David Payne (Neptune) ran a 10.56 100 meters in the preliminaries Friday, finishing 14th of the 30 runners. The top time was 10.06. In the 200 meters Payne finished 17th of 28 in the preliminaries with a time of 21.15. “David ran really well today,” Pasquariello said.
Senior Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne/Wayne Valley) placed 16th in the women’s shot put (14.54m). “Jaz did well,” Fenlator said. “That was her best performance in the shot put in a regional meet. Tomorrow are her big events.” On Saturday, Fenlator competes in both the hammer and the discus.
Fenlator, an eight-time All-East performer and the 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Most Outstanding Performer, will throw the hammer and discus on Saturday. Fenlator set the MAAC record in the discus (48.62m) earlier this month, and also won the MAAC hammer (49.58m). Fenlator currently ranks 37th in the nation in the discus.
Junior Rebecca Clatch (Drums, PA/Hazelton Area) placed 22nd in the women’s javelin (41.59m) on Friday.
-RU-
