Bryant finishes NEC Championships strong
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's and women's indoor track and field teams finished 11th and 12th overall, respectively, at this weekend's Northeast Conference Championships, as a number of Bulldogs put forth solid performances at the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md. Sunday afternoon.
The relay teams led the men's side in the final portion of the league championships, as the distance medley crew of Scott Twardowksi (Rehoboth, Mass.), Ryan Busby (Derry, N.H.), Chris Brida (Southampton, Mass.), and Ben Polichronopoulus (South Berwick, Maine) picked up a point for Bryant after finishing the event with a fifth-place time of 10:34.77. Joining the distance medley lineup was the 4x400m relay team, as Michael DiBella (Upper Saddle River, N.J.), Anthony Monteiro (Leominster, Mass.), Kyle Reid (North Raynham, Mass.) ,and Joe Pugliano (West Springfield, Mass.) combined to finish the race with a seventh-place time of 3:28.38.
DiBella would also make individual contributions, giving Bryant three points in the 500m dash after recording a time of 1:06.74. Joining DiBella at the head of the pack was Monteiro, as the school-record holder capped off a remarkable indoor season, finishing sixth in the 60m hurdle competition with a time of 8.60.
Busby would also compete in the mile final, finishing tenth overall, as the New Hampshire native completed the event in 4:27.46.
Once again, Brida performed well on the big stage, giving the Bulldogs two points with his seventh-place finish in the triple jump competition. Brida leaped 13.53m, less than one meter than the top spot, en route to capping off a career-best season for the Massachusetts native who came just a single foot short of the school record earlier this season. Bryant also received a solid performance from Peter Alie (Stoneham, Mass.), who recorded a 1.86m high jump, to help Bryant earn six points in the event.
On the women's side, Martha Reynolds (London, England) wrapped up her first NEC indoor meet with a sixth-place finish in the mile run, after registering a 5:14.19 mark in the final heat on Sunday afternoon.
In the field, rookie Katelyn Kheller (Wrentham, Mass.) paced the Black and Gold with a season-best 10.10m toss in the shotput. Kheller was joined by junior Amy Hutchinson (Exeter, R.I.), who recorded an 8.97m triple jump, a season best for the Bulldogs entering the weekend.
Central Connecticut claimed the top spot on the men's side with 114 points while Long Island University captured first place on the women's side with 138 total points.
The Bulldogs are slated to compete in the New England Championships before hosting the first outdoor meet of the season on March 29.
2011 Men's Performers of the Meet
Outstanding Field Performer: Vincent Elardo (MU)
Outstanding Track Performer: Aaron Radden (CCSU)
Rookie of the Meet: Denzell Jones (CCSUU)
Most Valuable Performer: Aaron Radden (CCSU)
2011 Women's Performers of the Meet
Most Valuable Performer (MVP): Jessie Gaines (LIU)
Most Outstanding Track Performer: Jessie Gaines (LIU)
Most Outstanding Field Performer: Jessie Gaines (LIU)
Most Outstanding Rookie Performer: Merel Van Steenbergen (RMU)
Men's Team Standings (17 Events Scored)
1. Central Connecticut 114
2. Sacred Heart 109
3. Long Island 108
4. Monmouth 102.50
5. Saint Francis (PA) 63
6. Mount St. Mary's 52.50
7. Robert Morris 50
8. St. Francis (NY) 23
9. Fairleigh Dickinson 17
10. Wagner 12
11. Bryant 11
Women's Team Standings (17 Events Scored)
1. Long Island 138
2. Monmouth 136
3. Mount St. Mary's 91
4. Sacred Heart 74
5. Saint Francis (PA) 70
6. Robert Morris 45
7. Wagner 31
8. Fairleigh Dickinson 27
9. Quinnipiac 22
10. Central Conn. St. 17
11. St. Francis (NY) 9
12. Bryant 3