The Rider University indoor track & field teams competed at the Eastern Championships this weekend, with the men at the ICAAAA Championships at Boston University, and the women at the ECAC Championships, held at the Reggie Lewis Track. “This was a good weekend for us,” said coach Rob Pasquariello.

The Rider University indoor track & field teams are competing at the Eastern Championships this weekend, with the men at the ICAAAA Championships at Boston University, and the women at the ECAC Championships, held at the Reggie Lewis Track. "We had a great day on both sides, the men and the women," said coach Rob Pasquariello. "We were surrounded by outstanding talent today and I hope our athletes felt they belonged because they certainly did today."

A dozen members of the Rider University indoor track & field teams were honored for their high grade point averages by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

The Broncs finished runner-up to perennial champion Manhattan at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, held Friday at the 168^th Street Armory. “We can’t fault the effort, we gave everything we had,” said Rider coach Rob Pasquariello. “Manhattan was just better than us today. But to be honest, we’re disappointed.  We have to find a way to get better.”

Nine straight times on the women’s side and eight of nine years on the men’s side.  Second place to Manhattan.  A trend?  Perhaps.  Just don’t tell that to the 2005-06 Rider indoor track & field teams.

The Broncs split with The College of New Jersey at the Mercer Duals, held at the Lawrenceville School Sunday. The Rider men defeated TCNJ 92-91, and the Rider women lost 98-77. “That is the first time we’ve beaten them on the men’s side,” said Rider coach Rob Pasquariello, but the team scores to me was inconsequential.  We were looking for really good performances and we got them, with IC4A and ECAC qualifiers and school records. We really did well today.”

Five athletes from five different sports will be inducted into the Rider University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.  Terrance Armstrong ’94 from the cross country and track & field teams, wrestler Francis Dunn ’97, softball player Colleen Fox ’99, baseball player Ed Horowitz ’89, and basketball player Mark Wilcox ’94 will enter the Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony scheduled for February 4, 2006.

Trying to get current and potential IC4A/ECAC qualifiers some additional exposure, several Broncs are competing at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York this weekend.

The Broncs competed at the John Covert Classic Saturday, hosted by Lehigh University, with the men finishing second and the women finishing fifth. “Overall I’m pleased with our performances,” said Rider coach Rob Pasquariello.  “We rested some kids who are a little banged up, but the people who competed did well.”

The Broncs competed at the Great Dane Classic Friday night, hosted by the University at Albany at New York’s 168^th Street Armory. The Rider men placed sixth of 14 teams and had six IC4A qualifiers, while the women placed eighth of 13 teams and has three ECAC Championship qualifiers.  “We had a good meet,” said Rider coach Rob Pasquariello.  “I’m happy with our finish today, for where we are in the season.”

The Broncs competed in the New York City Gotham Cup at the 168th St. Armory Friday.

Rider competed in the Fordham Kick Off Invitational at the 168th St. Armory Friday, with the men finishing first of 14 teams, and the women fifth of 13. “With teams like Rutgers, Manhattan and Seton Hall here, winning the meet was one of the farthest things from our minds,” said Rider coach Rob Pasquariello. “After a long period of time off we just tried to put kids in events that they could be successful in, so this is a pleasant surprise.”

Overcoming injury.  Battling the mental aspect of achieving more than you think you can.  Those were the story lines entering the 2005-06 opener for the Rider men’s and women’s indoor track teams at Lafayette Friday.  And what would a story be without a happy ending as the men finished first of five teams and the women a close second of five, breaking two school records in the process.