September 8, 2007 - 7th at Fordham Invitational

September 8, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Cross Country
Rider Men 7th, Women 11th at Fordham Invitational

BRONX, NY—The Broncs began the 2007 season at the Fordham Invitational, held at Van Cortlandt State Park, with the men finishing seventh of 22 teams and the women placing 11th of 23. “Overall the experience and the depth of the teams showed,” said Rider coach Bob Hamer. “We ran solid enough to place high. Once we get some better weather and sharpen up some things we are definitely going to have a great opportunity to have a great team this year.”

For the men, senior John Smith (Cliffwood Beach/Matawan) placed first for the Broncs, 30th overall among the 233 runners, covering the five mile course in 27:32. “Smith did a good job today,” Hamer said. “We had a game plan going in with the heat.”

“It was hot today,” Smith said, “and I really don’t like the heat that much for racing.  My time was slow, but I felt it was a good solid effort.  Once it gets cooler I think my time will be more accurate.  I like this course for the most part. It’s challenging but fair.”

For the Rider women, sophomore Kelsey Kohler (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil's Academy) was first for the Broncs, 38th overall among the 233 runners, covering the 3.1 mile course in 20:37. “I improved about 10 seconds on my best time on this course, and I’m happy with that. I’m always looking to improve,” Kohler said. “The first part of the race I tried to hold back so in the middle, with the hills, I could progressively get more aggressive. The last part of the race was down hill so I tried to use that to my advantage.  The race went well. I was happy with my performance.”

“Being the first race of the season we wanted to under run the first mile, try to group up,” Hamer said, “which I felt we did a pretty decent job doing. After the hills, once we got back on the flats we wanted to try to move up and Smith definitely moved up as much as anybody. He ran really hard.”

Sophomore Robert McCullough (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./La Salle) was second for the Rider men, 55th overall in 28:25.

Freshman Chelsea Callan (Hazlet/Raritan) was second for the Rider women (20:50), 56th overall.

“The women did a great job,” Hamer said.  “They really grouped up well for the first mile, and we really finished well. Overall, if you compare the times of this meet to last year almost everybody on our team was better, and that’s a positive sign. We’re working toward something special.”

Also for the men, junior Matt Dahl (West Keansburg/Raritan) placed 57th (28:26), freshman Michael Soroko (Kinnelon) placed 72nd (28:56), senior Jeff Stead (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) placed 88th , sophomore Phillip Capaldi (Woxall, Pa./Souderton) placed 99th (29:26),  junior SeanKelly McCauley (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond) was 127th (30:20), freshman Christopher Reale (Princeton Junction/West Windsor Plainsboro South) was 128th (30:21) and senior Ryan Donohue (Freehold/Freehold Twp.) was 140th (30:51).

Also for the women, junior Megan Crowe (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert's) placed 67th (21:08), junior Kelly Wojciehowski (Fair Haven/Rumson Fair Haven) was 78th (21:23), sophomore Lauren Lester (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) was 100th (21:49), freshman Ashley O'Brien (Edison/J.P. Stevens) was 123rd (22:27), sophomore Dominique Carnevale (Oceanport/Shore Regional) was 140th (22:53) and sophomore Kelly Dissinger (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) was 155th (23:14).

Rider hosts the Bronc Invitational September 15.  “Siena (ninth) and Rutgers (tenth) placed just ahead of our women,” Hamer said, “and we have both of them at our place next week, so that’s exciting. That’s a source of motivation for us next weekend.”

“I’m excited about having my first home meet,” Kohler said. “Last year we didn’t run at home so this is my first time on the home course and I’m looking forward to it.”

Men’s results: Penn 42, Princeton 50, Navy 54, DePaul 160, Stone Hill 162, Holy Cross 210, Rider 217, Rutgers 219, NYIT 263, Fordham 312, Sacred Heart 322, Ramapo 335, New Haven 380, Rowan 389, Felician 413, Temple 422, Stockton 503, Siena 533, St. Bonaventure 593, Fairfield 594, Molloy 693, Mercy 696

Women’s results: Princeton 20, Penn 85, DePaul 118, Northwestern 121, Holy Cross 192, Monmouth 202, Fordham 213, Stone Hill 232, Siena 257, Rutgers 289, Rider 291, Sacred Heart 296, Georgian Ct. 422, Temple 435, Ramapo 461, Felician 478, Stockton 480, New Haven 496, NYIT 552, St. Bonaventure 575, Rowan 583, Fairfield 613, FDU 731

-RU-