The Rider University men’s and women’s track & field programs were honored by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as 2007 All-Academic teams.

Rider University’s David Payne and Jazmine Fenlator were named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association 2007 All-Academic Teams.

Desmond Hamilton’s life these days is all about the numbers.  An Accounting/Finance major from Pennsauken, NJ, Hamilton is working in the Accounting Department at Rider University during the summer between his sophomore and junior years. He just returned from Sacramento, California, where he represented Rider at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Rider University sophomore Desmond Hamilton (Pennsauken) placed 20^th in the preliminaries of the long jump Wednesday evening at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Sacramento State. “Everybody back at Rider should be very proud of how Desmond represented us out here,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello. “He carried himself really well.”

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.

Sophomore Desmond Hamilton (Pennsauken) is heading to the 2007 NCAA National Track & Field Championships June 6-9 in Sacramento, California. “For a school our size to get somebody in there is pretty exceptional,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello, “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.”

Sophomore Desmond Hamilton (Pennsauken) has qualified for the NCAA National Track & Field Championships in the long jump. “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.

Five members of the Rider University track & field teams are traveling to Gainesville, Florida for the NCAA Regional Championships, hosted by the University of Florida May 25-26.

Rider University sophomore Kelly Kajunski led the Rider University track and field teams at the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) and ICAAAA Championships on Sunday, winning the high jump competition at the William Weaver Track and Field Stadium on the campus of Princeton University.  “It was a fantastic weekend,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.  “Our athletes made the most of a very important opportunity and stepped up to the next level.”

Rider University senior Doug Beck (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) threw 163’4” in the discus to place fifth, earning All-East honors at the ICAAAA Track and Field Championships hosted by Princeton University.  “Doug struggled early but bounced back and qualified for the finals with his last throw and moved all the way up to fifth,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.  “It was quite a performance.”

The Rider University women’s track & field team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Sunday and the Rider men placed second to perennial champion Manhattan. “I have mixed emotions,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello. “On the women’s side our kids stepped up. They went out and took it. On the men’s side, Manhattan really took it to us, so give them credit, they are a great team.”

The Rider University men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams placed 17 athletes on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic team it was announced by the conference office Sunday night.  “It shows the kids commitment to not only excel on the track but in the classroom as well,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.

On the strength of wins from senior Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) in the hammer (49.58m) and junior Rebecca Clatch (Drums, Pa./Hazelton Area) in the javelin (40.46m), the Rider women’s track and field team holds a one point lead over Manhattan College after day one of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference track and field championships hosted by Rider University this weekend.  “I thought on the men’s side, we did about as well as we could do,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.  “On the women’s side, we made some big mental mistakes out there today and left a lot of points on the board and in a close meet, that isn’t a good thing.”

Two members of the Rider University track & field program, senior Jazmine Fenlator and senior David Payne, have been named the Rider Athletes of the Month for April. “It's great to see David and Jazmine getting recognized for this award,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.

Several Broncs competed at the Broadmead Invitational Tuesday, hosted by Princeton University. “This was a very good day,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.

The Broncs completed the weekend at the Penn Relay Carnival and also competed at the Lion Invitational Saturday. “We finished up the regular season right where we wanted to be,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.

Several members of the Rider University track & field teams are competing at the 2007 Penn Relay Carnival hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Thursday-Saturday. “Our All-East performers rose to the occasion today and did well,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.

The Broncs competed at the Larry Ellis Memorial Invitational this weekend at Princeton University. “We did well today,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello. “We got a lot of qualifiers and we broke some team records. Our leaders really stepped up and took advantage of the weather.”

The Broncs are competing at the Larry Ellis Memorial Invitational Friday and Saturday, hosted by Princeton University. “It was a good, solid performance,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.  “There is always good competition here at this meet.”

Rider University senior David Payne was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Track & Field Performer of the Week for all competition April 10-16.  "It's great to see David getting recognized for the weekly award," said head coach Rob Pasquariello.

Both the Rider men’s and women’s track & field teams placed third of seven teams in the Rider Quad Outdoor Invitational on Saturday.  “Everything went well today,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.  “We took advantage of a tremendous opportunity to run at home in familiar surroundings in live competition before the conference championships that we are hosting in two weeks.”

Rider competed this past weekend at the Duke Invitational against some of the top competition on the East Coast and not only won a few events, helped put Rider track and field on the map.  “We had some really big-time mature performances,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.

The Rider track and field teams are competing this weekend at the Duke Asics Invitational.  “I thought some of the kids took real advantage today of the good weather, the top competition and made themselves better with their performances,” said head coach Rob Pasquariello.

Jazmine Fenlator and David Payne of the Rider University track & field teams were named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Performers of the Week for all competition March 27-April 2.  “This is great for both programs,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello.

The Rider track & field teams began the 2007 outdoor season at the Monmouth Season Opener meet Saturday, with the women defeating 10 of 12 opponents, and the men defeating nine of 11 opponents. “We did pretty well today,” said Rider head coach Rob Pasquariello. “It was a real solid, positive performance.”