College Indoor Track and Field
IC4A/ECAC Championships Day 1
S. Brown - All-East (Long Jump)
Giovagnoli Rider record in the Mile

BOSTON, Mass.--The Rider men's and women's indoor track and field teams are participating in the IC4A / ECAC Championships hosted by Boston University this weekend.

"Overall I though everyone competed very, very well," said head coach Bob Hamer.  "My message to the team was if we do what we did to get here, we are going to have a very good weekend and so far, that has happened.  If we do just a little bit better, then you start to make finals and come home with All-East honors."

On Saturday in the IC4A meet for the Rider men, sophomore Steven Brown (Penns Grove) placed sixth in the long jump (23-03.25), earning All-East honors.

"Steve wasn't seeded anywhere near the top 10," said Hamer.  "He jumped up and finished sixth overall.  He was fantastic.  He has an excellent chance in the triple jump on Sunday as well."

For the Rider women in ECAC competition, senior Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) set a new Rider record in the mile with a time of 4:58.16.

"Heather did a great job in the mile," Hamer said.  "Setting a Rider record in an ECAC race was exciting for everyone to witness."

Also for the Rider men in the IC4A meet, junior David Hightower (Easton, Pa./Easton) finished 11th in the preliminaries of the 60-meter hurdles (8.23) with junior James Burroughs (West Orange) placed 13th in the 60m hurdles (8.26).  Both Hightower and Burroughs will compete on Sunday in the semifinals.

"We are very excited to have Hightower and Burroughs in the finals on Sunday," said Hamer.  "They did what they were supposed to do and because of that, both have a chance to earn All-East honors."

Junior Dave Brown (Ewing) was 12th in the 500-meter trials (1:03.85), freshman Nasser Zayer (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) placed 23rd (4:18.66) in the mile trials and sophomore Joseph Carlin (Staten Island, N.Y./McKee) was 25th in the 800m trials (1:53.58).

"Dave (Brown) ran a great 500 race," Hamer added.  "And Joe (Carlin) did an excellent job in the 800 for us."

In the field, sophomore George Osti (Union) placed fifth in his flight of the weight throw (16.86m).

In the 4x400-meter relay, the team of sophomore Wilvenson Baptiste (Irvington), freshman Michael Breen (Hazlet/Raritan), sophomore Matthew Millemann (Hillsborough) and D. Brown, ran 3:15.87 to finish 16th.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Zayer, Carlin, sophomore Matt Sampson (Manasquan) and senior David South (Sergeantsville/Hunterdon Central) finished 20th with a time of 7:53.05.

The last of the preliminary events and finals will be held on Sunday.

"I told the team that I know we have the talent and ability to excel at this meet," Hamer added.  "We work and train very hard and if you put forth the effort in a championship meet, you will be very successful and you saw some of that today.  A lot of what we face is more mental than physical and we overcame that to perform very well.  I am confident that we are ready and prepared to have a great day on Sunday."

-RU-