Track & Field readies for conference meet
Bulldogs look to carry momentum from Stonehill into NEC Championship
MEN'S RESULTS / WOMEN'S RESULTS
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's and women's track & field teams turned in solid performances at Friday's Stonehill Skyhawk Invitational in Easton, Mass.
Billed as the final tune-up before the Bulldogs head to West Long Branch, N.J. for the Northeast Conference Championships, Friday's meet saw several Bryant athletes set new individual best marks, as well as two results that are good enough to qualify for the New England Championships.
The men, who placed seventh out of nine schools competing at the meet, were led by the standout performances by Scott Twardowski (Rehoboth, Mass.) and Anthony Monteiro (Leominster, Mass.).
Twardowski took home Bryant's only first-place finish of the afternoon with an exceptional run in the men's 5,000 meters as the senior crossed the line in a time of 15 minutes, 15.59 seconds to claim top honors. Teammates Ben Coughlin (Worcester, Mass.) and Christopher Chapruet (Danvers, Mass.) were fifth and sixth respectively, finishing in 15:39.27 and 15:40.15.
Monteiro, a junior hurdler, ran a season-best time of 15.59 in the 110 hurdles Friday to place fifth, but more importantly, Monteiro's time qualifies him for the New England Championships that are scheduled to take place later in May.
Also earning New England qualifying standards was the 4x100 meter relay squad that finished second at Stonehill on Friday in a time of 43.09 seconds.
Other highlights on the afternoon included newcomer Kyle Reid (North Raynham, Mass.) who ran very well in the sprints. The Bulldog freshman ran a personal-best time of 22.82 to place seventh in the 200 meters, and earlier earned a third-place finish in the 100 meter dash, with a time of 11.42 seconds. Teammate Michael Arons (West Hartford, Conn.) was close behind Reid with a time of 11.45 in the 100m to place fourth.
Senior Mike DiBella (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) ran well in the 400m, placing sixth overall in 49.67 seconds, and just missing out on the NEIC standard of 49.54.
In the field events, Peter Alie (Stoneham, Mass.) had a career day for the Bulldogs in the high jump. The freshman cleared a terrific 6-feet, 4-inches to place third overall and in the process, shattered his previous best mark of the outdoor season of 6-0. In fact, his mark of 6-4 was not that far off from the school record of 6-4.75 set back in 1978 by former standout Mark Ertel.
Chris Brida (Southampton, Mass.) took home a pair of fifth-place finishes in both the long jump and triple jump. Brida's mark of 20-9 in the long jump is a new PR for the junior.
On the women's side, the Bulldogs finished eighth overall on the afternoon with 28 points, but saw several new best marks as well, including Eimear Black (Glengormley, Ireland) in the women's 800 meters with a 10-place finish in a time of 2:22.46. Teammate Emileigh Gilfoy (Sutton, Mass.) took 22nd in the event in 2:40.97.
High jumper Joanna Chanaj (Peabody, Mass.) cleared a season-best 4-10.25 to finish fifth while freshman Katelyn Kelleher (Wrentham, Mass.) earned a ninth-place finish in the women's shot put with a best mark of 34-1.25.
Other highlights include a strong finish in the 5,000 meters where sophomore Megan Robertson (Sewell, N.J.) was 5th in 18:39.49 and Sherika Nicholas (East Patchogue, N.Y.) who placed fifth in the 400 meters in 59.20.
The Bulldogs will travel to Monmouth University for next weekend's Northeast Conference Championships, beginning on Saturday, May 7 and concluding Sunday afternoon, May 8. The Monmouth men and women are both the defending NEC Outdoor Track & Field Champions. Bryant finished 11th overall in the team standings at last year's outdoor championships held at Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland, while the women finished tied for ninth.