Robin Glynn – General Assignment Reporter –
The Southern Men and Women’s track finished in fourth and seventh place at the New York Metropolitan Championship, after competing against teams such as Rutgers, Fordham and Long Island University at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York.
According to the athletic department, the men were recently selected 11th in the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association indoor rankings. The men were nationally ranked number 10, dropping one spot.
“We had a good meet,” said John Wallin, Head Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach. “We didn’t place where we wanted,” said Wallin. “The freshman did good.”
A.J. Guerra finished the weight throw in first place and Justin Escaravage hit an NCAA provisional mark for the heptathlon. Guerra finished in first throw with 18.49m.Escaravage finished in fourth place with 4,843 points.
In the relays, Twayne Forth finished with two second-place finishes. Forth finished second in the 60m dash with 6.99 seconds. He also finished second in the 200m with 22.27 seconds. Nick Lebron finished fourth in the 60m hurdles with 8.43 seconds. Nelson Laskoski finished second in the pole vault with 4.80m.
Sophomore Michelle Grenci finished in first place in the pole vault.
According to the athletic department, in the 4×400 relay, the team of Jimm Guerrier, Brandon Gregory, Joseph Caraciolo and Forth finished fourth in the event with a time of 3:19.83. Michael Lee and Guerrier finished fifth and seventh in the long jump. Lee jumped at 6.48m and Guerrier at 6.32m. Guerrier also led in the triple jump in fourth place at 14.50m. Lee was sixth at 14.27m.
In the throws, Michael Cameron and Tresley Dupont finished second and third respectively in the shot put. Cameron had a throw of 16.35m and Dupont of 15.32m.
“No surprise,” said Wallin about his athletes performances. “They work hard.”
As for the women, according to the Athletic Department, were recently selected 15th in the USTFCCCA indoor rankings after ranking 14th last week.
Melissa Stoll, Head Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach, said the women that competed at the event did well and have progressed.
Jasmine Bien-Aime led the team with an NCAA provisional mark and a new school record in the 60m dash. Her qualifying mark was 7.60 seconds for the preliminaries, and that time set a new school record at SCSU. Bien-Aime finished the event in second place with a time of 7.77 seconds. Bien-Aime finished 200m in fourth place with 25.12 seconds.
Michelle Grecni finished in first place in the pole vault with 3.55m. Meghan Nicolletta also finished the pole vault in third place with 3.15m.
Sarah Vaughan finished 10th in the 5000m with a time of 19:09.70.
In the throws, Elizabeth Bashir finished in fourth place with 11.80m. Bashir also finished the weight throw in 10th place with 14.25m. In the relays, the 4X400 team of Titilayo Vanriel, Bien-Aime, Marvline Carter and Brittany Niemczyk finished fifth with 4:00.92.
“Michelle Grecni did not move, but she helped with the team score,” said Stoll.
Stoll said that there were a few who were not able to compete at the event but will be competing at Giegengack Invitational. Stoll said the invitational will be another opportunity to improve marks.
Also competing at the event were Columbia, St. Fancis, Manhattan College, Stony Brooke, Ramap, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wagner and St. Peter’s.
“They are there to compete,” said Stoll. “It’s always been good. Their always there to meet the challenge.
