May 31, 2007 - Kajunski May Athlete of the Month & All-East Region Honors
May 31, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rider Athletes of Month
Track’s Hamilton and Kajunski All-East Region Honors
LAWRENCEVILLE—Two members of the Rider University track & field program, sophomore Desmond Hamilton and sophomore Kelly Kajunski, have been named the Rider Athletes of the Month for all competition in May. Both Hamilton and Kajunski earned All-East Region honors.
Hamilton (Pennsauken) became just the second Bronc to ever qualify for the NCAA Track & Field National Championships, and just the third Bronc to ever win an event at the ICAAAA Championships, when he long jumped 7.83m (25’8.75”). “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. “That’s pretty special.”
Kajunski (Glenmore, Pa./Downington East) became the first Bronc to place at an NCAA Regional when she finished seventh with a high jump of 1.76m (5’9.25”) at the East Regional at the University of Florida. “We told Kelly she could be as good as she wanted to be, and she really bought into the program and has come a long way through hard work,” Pasquariello said.
Kajunski won the women’s high jump at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships with a Rider-record height of 5’10”, her second ECAC Title. She also won the high jump at the MAAC Championships with a MAAC Championship record of 1.75m.
Hamilton placed fifth at the NCAA Regional in Florida with a jump of 7.45m (24’5.5”). At the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships Hamilton broke the MAAC records in both the 100m (10.55) and the 200m (21.42), and won the long jump with a Rider record jump of 7.28m.
Hamilton will compete at the NCAA Championships June 6-7 in Sacramento, California. “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.”
-RU-
