The Monmouth University track and field teams competed in the Lehigh Invitational this past Saturday in Bethlehem, Pa. In ten events, the team earned wins and combined in setting seven new all-time top-tens at the outdoor meet.
Winning an event and setting a new all-time top-ten mark were four Monmouth athletes. Freshman Stone Caraccio dominated the track running the 800m with a time of 1:51.84. Of all time, he is in ninth place in Monmouth history.
Winning the men’s 500 meter was Louis DiLaurenzio with a time of 14:37.29 (third). As for the women’s 400mH was Yasmeen Tinsley who posted a time of 1:02.98 (ninth).
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Mike Nelson, who is also the track and field head coach, spoke to Monmouth Athletics about the weekend competition.
He said, “I believe we made the most out of this opportunity at Lehigh. The weather was abit rough to start the day, but then gradually got better as the day progressed.” He added, “We had several event victories and multiple top-ten performances.”
There was no way the excitement was gong to stop going over to the field. The field was just as much of a winning environment.
Freshman javelin thrower Evan Niedrowski won the men’s javelin event. He was able to finish with a mark of 68.45m which happens to be fifth all-time in Monmouth University history as well as a brand new freshman record. This is an amazing accomplishment for the freshman Wyomissing, Pa. native.
As for all of the team’s event winners, other than previously mentioned, freshman Keven Kevelier won the men’s high jump, Mohamed Diagouraga won the men’s triple jump, and junior Jack Stuart won the men’s discus.
On the women’s team, McKenzie Delahanty won the women’s 5000m and Veronica Chainov won the women’s high jump. Tatum Perez, Nina Corpora, Thalia Dyer, and Brianna Rubio won the women’s 4×400 with a time of 3:57.29.
In the top-tens category, Caraccio came in ninth in the men’s 800m with DiLaurenzio placing third in the men’s 500m. Junior James Hoffman placed fourth in the men’s 5000m with Tyler Clifford coming in fifth in the 5000m.
In the field, Niedrowski placed fifth as he created the new freshman record in the men’s javelin.
In the women’s top-tens were Tinsley who came in ninth in the women’s 400mH and senior Lauren Saifi who came in third in the women’s pole vault.
Coach Nelson said, “What I was most impressed with today was seeing people perform well who had experienced some injuries recently. We had several people return to action and it’s always inspiring to see resiliency among your athletes.”
The University announced on Tuesday that freshmen Evan Niedrowski and Yasmeen Tinsley both earned MAAC Outdoor Track and Field weekly awards. Earning the Co-Men’s Field Performer of the Week was Niedrowski. Being named the Women’s Track Performer of the Week was Tinsley.
This marks the third consecutive week where the Monmouth Hawks have earned two weekly honors.
Niedrowski’s mark of 68.4 in the javelin throw is the best among all MAAC opponents this season. With Tinsley’s win, she tops her MAAC opponents as well.
Head Coach Nelson added, “Overall, we’re in a good spot but we still want more. We’ll get some great competition the next few weeks and put up some big marks!”
Looking ahead, the track and field team will be split up as they look to continue their winning outdoor season.
On April 15, they will be split between Moravian’s Greyhound Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. and Bucknell’s Bison Outdoor Classic in Lewisburg, Pa.
