MU Track 2016 Champions
Sports

Track Sweeps MAAC Championship

MU Track 2016 ChampionsThe MU men’s and women’s track teams each swept the field and took home the gold at the 2016 MAAC Conference Championship on Sunday.

This is the third year in a row that the men and women’s teams have swept the competition and been crowned MAAC conference champions. MU has now swept their last five conference championships, including two Northeast Conference championships.

The meet took place at the 168th Street New Balance Armory Track and Field Center in the Bronx, NY.

The men’s team took gold scoring 170 total points and the women got the win tallying 205 points.

“It was a very hard-fought, well-rounded win for our team,” head coach Joe Compagni said. “We pulled together and competed tough, and with a great team attitude.”

Junior Lindsey Bellaran was named women’s Indoor Track Most Outstanding performer. She individually won the 800 (2:10:29), and took second in the mile (4:48:63), which is a Hawks school record.  She also anchored the victory for the DMR team, which set a new MAAC record of 11:44:68.

 “It was a great experience,” Bellaran said. “The energy was amazing. I definitely attribute my success to my coaches and teammates. It’s so easy to go out and leave it all on the track for them.”

 

Geordan Ferguson, men’s team captain, took gold medal in the 60 hurdles (8:07) and helped win the 4×400 relay.

“The championship meet today was electrifying,” Ferguson said. “From the very beginning to the very end, our entire team carried an inspiring energy. That energy contributed greatly to our overall success today.”

MU’s men’s and women’s teams both swept the 60 meter dash. Sophomore Bryan Sosoo set a new MAAC and school record finishing with a time of 6.71.

Sophomore Domoah Kutu-Akoi took gold on the women’s side, with a time of 7.67.

Sophomore Corey Murphy, who took first place in the shot put (57’ 4.25”), said, “Our team ran, jumped and threw well and that energy carried over into the next event and led to more success,” Sophomore Corey Murphy, who took first place in the shot put (57’ 4.25”), said. “It’s an awesome feeling to be a part of such a successful program on both the men’s and women’s side, and today was just a showing of that.”

At the end of the meet, Monmouth represented MAAC champions in the men’s and women’s 60m dash, the men’s 60 hurdles, the men’s 200, the men’s and women’s 800, the men’s shot put, the women’s DMR and 4×400 relay and the men’s 4×400 relay.

“To have both men and women bring home the ‘W’ is something special,” Ferguson said. “Also, it just goes to show how great our coaches are. Their knowledge, skill, and motivation are why we are in the position we are now.”

Compagni and staff were named the men’s and women’s Coach of the Year. This is the 41st and 42nd time he has received these honors during his tenure at Monmouth.

Finishing at the top of the MAAC conference for the third year will once again make MU the team to beat, but they are ready for the challenge.

“Winning gold for both teams is huge because we always know that the other teams in the conference have an arrow on our backs, being the reigning champions. To be able to rise to the occasion on both sides is not only impressive, but extremely exciting for our program,” said Tionna Garner, senior captain of the women’s team.

PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth Athletics