October 27, 2006 - 5th at MAAC Championships

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October 27, 2006    
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's College Cross Country
5th at MAAC Championships
Seven Broncs MAAC All-Academic Honors

BRONX, NY—Both the Rider University men and women placed fifth of 10 teams at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, held at Van Cortlandt State Park. “For the men, that was our best overall performance, man-to-man, that we had all year,” said Rider coach Bob Hamer. “We ran with a lot of heart and passion. The women got out great early on in the first 1,000 meters or so, but Marist and Manhattan got away from us.”

For the Rider men, sophomore Matt Dahl (West Keansburg/Raritan) placed 14th overall, covering the 8,000m course in 26:20.8 to earn All-MAAC honors. Junior Jeff Stead (Fairless Hills, PA/Pennsbury) was second for the Broncs, 16th overall among the 116 runners, finishing in 26:27. “Our first three guys ran really well,” Hamer said. “Matt and Jeff really stepped up and ran good, quality races. Matt ran a great race today. He got (passed) some good people over the last 3,000 meters.”

“I felt really good, really strong the whole way through,” said Dahl. “I really wanted that All-MAAC placing today. That’s been my goal since summer training. I tried to take advantage of my height on the down hills. I always make sure I open up the stride going down hill.”

“Matt’s going to be a really good runner at Rider and today he really stepped up and showed that he has the potential to be a good one,” said Hamer.

Junior John Smith (Cliffwood Beach/Matawan) was third for Rider, 22nd overall, in 26:53.7. The race marked the first time ever that Smith did not finish first among the Broncs, ending his streak of 16 meets. “Johnny has been running with a hurt hamstring, so I knew he was going to be down a bit, but he still fought hard for us,” said Hamer.

For the Rider women, sophomore Andrea Campbell (Somers Point/Mainland Regional) placed first for Rider, 16th overall, covering the 6,000m course in 23:20.7. “The women’s conference is really tough,” said Hamer. “There wasn’t much space between second and fifth.”

Sophomore Kelly Wojciehowski (Fair Haven/Rumson Fair Haven) was 20th among the 121 runners, finishing in a time of 23:41.4. “Kelly is really coming into her own,” said Hamer. “She’s doing a great job for us right now. She’s taken her training and competing to a whole new level. She might not have finished as high as she thought she could, but we’re doing all the things that are going to make her a really great runner down the road here at Rider.”

“I had a PR today, which is nice” said Wojciehowski. “I felt alright. The race went out really hard. I was hoping to be in the top 15, but I’m happy with the PR (personal record). I was a lot more comfortable on this course than I was the last time we ran here. I never liked this course before, and I still don’t, but it is beginning to grow on me.”

Freshman Kelsey Kohler (Southampton, PA/St. Basil’s) finished 24th in 23:55.9, sophomore Megan Crowe (Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert’s) was 32nd in 24:12.7, and freshman Lauren Lester (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) was 40th in 24:29.7.

Also for the Rider men, junior Ryan Donohue (Freehold) was 35th in 27:43.7 and freshman Phil Capaldi (Woxsall, PA/Souderton) was 45th in 28:27.6.

The Iona College men, ranked third in the nation, claimed their 16th consecutive (20th overall) men's championship. The Iona women's team, ranked 19th in the nation, won their second straight cross country championship.

“Fifth is a little disappointing, but we are down some guys, and with this kind of meet you can’t be less than 100 percent or it will really hurt you,” said Hamer.

Five members of the men's team and two members of the women's team received MAAC All-Academic honors.

For the men, junior Paul Matuszak, junior Jeff Stead, sophomore Tom McCuire, junior Ryan Donohue and junior John Smith were honored.  Matuszak is an Actuarial Science major with a 3.92 g.p.a., Stead is a Business Economics/Finance major with a 3.66 g.p.a., McGuire is an Elementary Education/Math major with a 3.43 g.p.a., Donohue is a Finance major with a 3.26 g.p.a., and Smith is a Secondary Education/History major with a 3.23 g.p.a. 

For the women, sophomore Patrice Mahoney and senior Jennifer Lee were honored.  Mahoney is a Marketing/Advertising major with a 3.49 g.p.a. and Lee is an Actuarial Science major with a 3.21 g.p.a.

The Broncs compete at the NCAA Regional November 11.

-RU-