TCNJ MEN’S TRACK WINS EMORY INVITATIONAL; WOMEN THIRD

Media release
Atlanta, GA…The College of New Jersey men’s and women’s track and field teams finished off their opening meet of the season in mid-season form as the Lions turned in numerous post-season qualifying marks at the Emory Asics Classic on Saturday.

In addition to the strong individual performances, TCNJ and excelled in the team standings as the men won the invitational with 167 points and the women claimed third place with 95.

Men’s Highlights…
The top finish for the Lions was senior Brian Donatelli (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) as he won the shot put with a toss of 14.21 meters. He was also second in the discus with a distance of 38.90 meters.

TCNJ had two individuals finish second with both meeting ECAC Championships standards. Freshman Tim Blashford (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) cleared a height of 4.25 meters in the pole vault and classmate Kyle Gilroy (Oak Ridge, NJ/West Milford Twp.) had a time of 15.46 seconds in the 110-meter high hurdles.

In the triple jump, freshman Oluwaseye Akele (Jersey City, NJ/Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic) finished fourth in the triple jump bouncing his way to distance of 12.52 meters.

Gilroy added a fourth-place effort in the 400 intermediate hurdles with an ECAC time of 55.19 seconds, while DeShard Stevens (Jersey City, NJ/James T. Ferris) was fifth in the 400 meters with a clocking of 51.79 seconds. Pasquale DiGioacchino (Bernardsville, NJ/Bernards) added another fifth in the 800 meters with a clocking of 1:57.58.

TCNJ’s 4x100 relay team also place fifth as the quartet of Steve Murray (East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown), Gilroy, Jule Brooks (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic) and Stevens combined for a time of 43.57. That time also met an ECAC standard.

Women’s Highlights…
Junior Stephanie Herrick (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) met a NCAA provisional time in the first meet of the spring as she raced her way to a time of 2:13.54 in the 800 meters placing second in the race.

The Lions won two events on the second day of the invitational as senior Jessica Bonelli (Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) was the first to cross the finish line in the 400 with a time of 58.22 seconds and freshman Meryl Wimberly (Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck) was second in 58.27. Both of those times were ECAC qualifying marks.

The 4x100 relay team took top honors with a time of 49.32 seconds earning an ECAC time. Running in that race were sophomore Priscilla Senyah (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial), junior Kristen Tricocci (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson), sophomore Meghan Miller (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and Bonelli.

The Lions added another win in the 4x400 relay with a ECAC worthy time of 3:56.37 as freshman Rochelle Prevard (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.), Bonelli, sophomore Jianna Spadaccini (Butler, NJ/Butler) and Wimberly competed.

Tricocci also tied for second in the long jump (5.28 meters) and Miller was second in the 400 hurdles (1:08.28).

Senyah added yet another second-place finish in the 100 hurdles as Senyah was the first of three Lions to place in the top 5. Senyah had a time of 15.85 to place second and Miller was fourth at 15.99 with both of those times meeting ECAC standards. Junior Kirsten Gerbehy (Califon, NJ/Voorhees) then took fifth place for TCNJ.

In the pole vault, senior Lauren Pfeiffer (Freehold, NJ/Winslow Township) cleared the bar at 3.07 meters to finish in third place.

Spadaccini also picked up a fourth-place finish in the 800 with an ECAC time of 2:17.56.

In the 1,500, junior Megan Donovan (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) boasted a personal-best time of 5:03.67.

-30-