Broncs begin outdoor season on high note

By Michael Mack
The Rider track team traveled to Lafayette to compete in a seven-team invitational on Saturday. The women’s team was led by record-breaking performances by sophomore Heather Giovagnoli and junior Chelsea Callan. Giovagnoli placed sixth in the 3,000-meter and set a Rider record time of 10:27.33. Callan won the steeplechase for the Broncs and also set a Rider record with a time of 11:14.04.
The women’s team was able to find even more success. The team won three of the four throwing events at the invitational. Senior Alicia Price won the hammer with a distance of 50.42 meters and the shot put with a distance of 13.70 meters. Price also placed 12th in the discus.
Senior Jennifer Alksmant won the discus with a distance of 39.77 meters. She also placed sixth in the shot put and 12th in the hammer. Other impressive performances for the women’s team included a win in the 100-meter for junior Shaylah Counts, a second place finish in the long jump for freshman Caitlin Vanek, a second place finish in the 100-meter for freshman Mia Riley, a third place finish in the 1500-meter for sophomore Kristen Perrine, and a third place finish in the 800-meter for junior Johanna Clarke. All of this amounted to a third place finish for the Rider women.
“It was a good start to the outdoor season,” said Callan.
The men’s team also managed to find a great deal of success at the invitational. The team was propelled by wins in three different events.
Freshman Jammar Lim won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 55.50. Lim also placed sixth in the 110-meter hurdles. Freshman Jorge Merino won the shot put with a distance of 14.97 meters and placed third in the discus with 47.33 meters.
Meanwhile, junior John Clark won the discus with a distance of 49.60 meters.
“My personal performance was a good opener for the season,” Clark said. “I have much higher expectations than last year and have much work to do, but it’s a good start.”
Clark also placed second in the hammer and fourth in the shot put.
Other impressive performances for the men’s team included second place finishes by freshmen James Burroughs in the 400-meter hurdles, Greg Wesh in the 800-meter, David Hightower in the 110-meter hurdles and third place finishes by freshmen Perry Asare in the long jump, Daequn Kim in the 200-meter and Niko Sakellis in javelin.
At the end of the day the men’s team finished second of the seven teams that competed.
Next up for both teams is the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va. today and tomorrow.