The men’s and women’s track and field teams opened its outdoor season at the 17th Annual Season Opener, which featured over 1900 competitors from 35 different schools and 12 club teams, Saturday afternoon. The Hawks, who claimed the Northeast Conference Championships a year ago, qualified for the ECAC/IC4A Championships in nine event areas, while Qiyana Hill set the school record in the discus throw.
The men’s team has not lost at home since the 1996 season, while the women’s team has not dropped a meet in West Long Branch since the 2001 campaign.
“Yesterday’s record setting mile was a fun way to start off the meet and we are happy to continue our winning streak at home,” said head coach Joe Compagni. “We had great efforts in every event area and it is a positive sign to have a number of qualifying marks this early in the season.”
Hill took first in the discus throw, registering a toss of 42.79m (140’ 5”), which earns her a trip to the ECAC Championships. Rookie Taylor Johnson finished in third with a mark of 40.83m (133’ 11”).
Anne Moccia, who will join Hill at the championships, landed a javelin throw of 41.44m (135’ 11”) to earn second overall.
Rachel Aliotta moved into second all-time in the MU record books with her mark of 13.55m (44’ 5.5”) in the shot put, which was good for a first place finish. Sandra Jean-Romain took third with a throw of 12.69m (41’ 7.75”).
Laura Williams ran a MU-best 1:03.30 in the 400 meter to finish second overall, followed by Rachel Watkins .06 seconds later in third. Ali Hehn crossed the finish line in 1:03.66 for fourth, while Lindsey Walsh took fifth with a time of 1:04.48.
In a field of over 60 participants, Williams took first in the 200 meter dash, crossing the finish line in 25.90.
The Hawks took the three top spots in the high jump. Led by Watkins, who cleared 1.71m (5’ 7.25”) to finish first and qualify for the ECAC Championships, the junior moves into fourth place in the record books with her result. Walsh and Alison Day took second and third, each posting a mark of 1.66m (5’ 5’.25”).
Kate Frye cleared 5.32m (17’ 5.5”) in the long jump to earn first followed by Walsh in second with a jump of 5.31m (17’ 5”).
Lauren McDonald, who vaulted 3.05m (10’), took first in the women’s pole vault.
Kim Price earned third in the triple jump, clearing 10.73m (35’ 11.5”).
The 4×400 meter relay wrapped up the afternoon for the women’s team as Hehn, Amanda Eller, Emily MacEwen and Danielle Toritto finished in 4:08.38 to earn second.
For the men’s team, Joshua Lewis, Geoff Navarro, Mike Drake and Stevenson Cajuste ran to a second place finish in the 4×100 meter relay, crossing the finish line in 42.05. The time registers the relay for the IC4A Championships.
Navarro also ran 11.26 in the 100 meter dash to earn third overall, while Lewis cleared 6.32m (20’ 9”) in the long jump to also finish third.
IC4A qualifier in the hammer from yesterday’s event, Vincent Elardo earned second in the shot put, posting a mark of 17.01m (55’ 9.75”), followed by sophomore Errol Jeffrey, who made his first career outdoor appearance for the Blue and White, in third with a toss of 16.29m (53’ 5.5”). Along with Shane Carle, who threw for 15.67m (51’ 5”), the trio qualified for the IC4A Championships later this season.
Elardo also claimed third in the discus, landing a throw of 46.69m (153’ 2”).
Zach Torrell earned third place in the javelin with his IC4A qualifying mark of 58.85m (193’ 1”).
In the triple jump, Josh Man cleared 13.36m (43’ 10”) to earn second overall.
Sophomore Ed Kramer posted a mark of 2.01m (6’ 7”) to finish second in the high jump, followed by Erik Anderson, who took third with a jump of 1.96m (6’ 5”).
Senior Peter Matano cleared 4.40m (14” 5.25”) in the pole vault to land third overall.
Bayaan Oluyadi, Aaron Aquino-Rodriguez, Joe DiBianca and Jon Marques capped of the day for the Hawks with a first place finish in the 4×400 meter relay, posting a time of 3:18.86.
The Blue and White return to action next weekend at the Raleigh Relays and Lafayette Invitational.
