February 10, 2006 - Rider/Lafayette Winter Games
February 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rider Indoor Track
at Rider/Lafayette Games
NEW YORK, N.Y.—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 feel that they are on stride not to compete with Manhattan but dare we say, defeat the Jaspers next weekend at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships held at the Armory in New York.
“We have the right mix of the quality and the quantity to match up with Manhattan,” said assistant coach Bob Hamer.
With 10 meets scheduled during the indoor season, including five at the Armory where the championships will be held, the coaching staff is taking every step necessary to make sure the Broncs are ready, both mentally and physically as they try to unseat Manhattan. After all, every point counts.
“The women were second behind Manhattan by 3.5 points last year,” said Hamer. “We have given extra attention to every detail, every effort, every minute of practice and competition to reverse the trend.”
On Friday night, the Broncs took the final ‘pre-MAAC’ steps (or laps if you will) competing in the ‘Rider/Lafayette’ Winter Games at the 168th Street Armory in New York.
For the Rider men’s team, junior David Payne (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) set two Rider records and qualified for the IC4A’s in the 60m (6.89) and 200m (21.72). Payne finished second in both events.
“I didn’t anticipate setting two school records tonight,” said Payne. “But, I expected to do well because as a team we expect to do well. I feel that I am peaking at the right time but I can also do better. We have a well rounded team, the coaches recruited well and the underclassmen are pushing the upperclassmen to do better and that’s only making us a better team. We definitely have a chance against Manhattan next weekend.”
Reminded of the 3.5 point difference between the schools last indoor season, Coach Hamer expects a dog fight next week.
“As you can tell by the scores historically, every event counts. We have the balance of younger runners pushing the ones who are supposed to achieve the better times and like we’ve already seen, several underclassmen could pull off some surprises next weekend,” Hamer added.
For the Rider women’s team, junior Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) won the weight throw in an ECAC qualifying distance of 16.34m.
Also for the Broncs, sophomore Randy Nixon (Manorville, N.Y./West Hampton) won the 60m hurdles in an IC4A qualifying time of 8.20, with junior Dave Lado (Ridgefield, N.J./Ridgefield Memorial) finishing fourth in the 800m with an IC4A qualifying time of 1:54.10, and sophomore Jeff Stead (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) placing sixth in the 1000m in an IC4A qualifying time of 2:29.16.
Junior Doug Beck (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) placed third in the shot put (14.96m) and fifth in the weight throw (16.07m).
Junior Allyson Angelo (Brick, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) was third in the pole vault (3.19m).
“As far as tonight, we had some really good individual performances, including some who again set personal bests. But more than facing Manhattan next weekend the team is starting to believe that we can qualify for final events at the IC4A/ECAC meet and not just participate, actually score team points while attaining All-East selections,” Hamer said.
“We have worked to have the team raise themselves to a championship level. We are deeper and have a higher quantity to back up the kids who are winning the races, the quality. Not just picking up a first place but, a first, third, fourth and sixth and that’s how you win a championship, with a good team effort,” Hamer added.
Sounds like a good way to start a new trend.
-RU-
