April 1, 2006 - 3rd of 6 - Lafayette Invitational
April 1, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Track & Field
Rider hosts Lafayette Invitational
Men 1st of 6, Women 3rd of 6
LAWRENCEVILLE—Track athletes are used to competing in all types of weather. Just not all during one meet. Rider University hosted the Lafayette Invitational on Saturday in conditions that went from sunny and 75 to sideways rain and 55 and back again. Throw in a 40 mile per hour wind and well, you have an outdoor collegiate track meet.
Competing against St. Joseph’s, Lafayette, Moravian, Marist and Columbia on Saturday, the men’s team won the meet and the women’s team finished third of six.
“This was a nice win,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello. “Anytime we are home, we want to have a good showing; team scoring isn’t paramount but we wanted to have a good showing and it’s always nice to get a ‘W’.”
For the men’s team, junior Doug Beck (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) set a Rider record in the shot put, qualifying for IC4A’s with a throw of 52’6”. Beck also finished second in the discus with an IC4A qualifying throw of 157’10”.
For the women’s team, junior Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) set a Rider record in the hammer with an ECAC qualifying throw of 161’1”, finishing third. Fenlator also won the shot put with an ECAC qualifying throw of 45’9.25”.
Freshman Kelly Kajunski (Glenmore, Pa./Downington East) and junior Katie O’Connor (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Twp.) each set a Rider record and qualified for ECAC’s in the high jump (5’7”).
Also for the men’s team, sophomore Andre Fearon (Newark, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) won the 800m (1:57.68), sophomore Randy Nixon (Manorville, N.Y./West Hampton) won the 110m hurdles (14.90), freshman Tim Cook (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) won the high jump (6’3”), freshman Desmond Hamilton (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) won the triple jump (46’1.25”) and junior Dan Enk (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) won the hammer (158’8”).
The men’s 4x100 relay of Nixon, Hamilton, senior Jay Hill (Matawan, N.J./St. John Vianney) and freshman AJ Parillo (South River, N.J./South River) won with a time of 41.94.
“The women’s team did really well against some very tough competition,” added Pasquariello. “I am encouraged by the showing, both men and women; both teams were really focused going into the meet.”
Due to Lafayette’s Fisher Field being renovated the track meet was moved to Rider. “Having the meet at Rider was kind of a mixed blessing,” said assistant coach Bob Hamer. “It’s kind of fun for the team to travel together and get away but at the same time it was fun for them to be able to compete in front of family and friends one extra time. The extra home meet will also help us down the road because we are hosting the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships on May 6 & 7.”
“The weather was changing every 10 minutes,” Pasquariello added. “The teams handled 70 and sunny – they handled 55 and driving rain and the 40 M.P.H. winds. We deal with adversity all the time and that’s where the character of the team shows and I am happy with that effort.”
Home cooking will remain on the menu the next two weekends, as Rider hosts the Rider Invitational on April 8 and the Rider Quad meet on April 15.
-RU-
Women - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored
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1) Lafayette College 98.50 2) St. Joseph University 66.16
3) Rider University 58.83 4) Columbia University 44
5) Moravian College 20.50 6) Marist College 10
Men - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored
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1) Rider University 90 2) Lafayette College 68.50
3) Moravian College 52.50 4) St. Joseph University 51
5) Marist College 27 6) Columbia University 10
