RICHMOND, Va.- The Saint Peter's University track and field team began the outdoor season this weekend at the VCU Rams Invitational. The women came in fourth with a total score of 74, behind tournament host and winner VCU, followed by Rider and George Mason, while the men tallied 72 total points, good for sixth place.
The women were led by the reigning MAAC Indoor Most Outstanding Performer in field events, Jamelia Johnson (Nutley, N.J./Passaic County Tech), who came in second in the Triple Jump with a leap of 12.26m. Her jump established a new Saint Peter's record and also marked the first time a Peacock had exceeded 40'.
Teammates Jennifer Cajou (Amityville, N.Y./Farmingdale High School) and Sunita Kumar (Aschneim, Germany/Gymnasium Kirchheim) finished fourth and sixth respectively behind Johnson in the event.
The 4x800 Meter Relay squad of Natalia Carvalho (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck High School), Selena Marshall, Gina Nocerino (Wantagh, N.Y./General Dougless MacArthur) and Monika Miazga (Clifton, N.J./Clifton High School) came in second with a school record time of 9:40.68, behind MAAC rival Rider.
Kumar turned in an additional top-three performance in the Javelin; placing second with a finals throw of 33.12m.
Saint Peter's was also well represented in the Hammer Throw event, as Regina Raglan (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle High School) and Cristina Vilsaint (Union, N.J./Union High School) finished two-three with respective throws of 47.98m and 47.00m.
Other top five finishes were turned in by Stefanny Laureano (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood High School) in the 400m Dash and Renee Brzyski (Princeton, N.J./Montgomery High School) in both the 100m Hurdles and Javelin Throw.
The men were led by Bentley Whitfield (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's), who established a new Saint Peter's record in the Hammer, with a first place throw of 51.15m. Isaiah Harris (Orange, N.J./Immaculate Conception) also added a first place finish in the Triple Jump with a leap of 14.31m.
Kevin Persson (Mt. Olive, N.J./Kean University) and Harris each clinched second place in their respective events. Persson in the 400m Dash with a time of 49.76, and Harris in the High Jump (2.05m).
Jamel Presley (Rochester, N.Y./Rahway High School) turned in strong performances in both the 110m Hurdles (Fourth place- 14.75) and Long Jump (Fourth place- 6.51m).
Other noteworthy performers were made by Ieshawn Johnson (Freeport, N.Y./Baldwin HS) who came in third in the Shot Put (14.71m) and Jarek Babb (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) who crossed the finish line fifth in the 400m Hurdles (56.31).
Saint Peter's returns to action this weekend, as they travel down to South Jersey for the Stockton Invitational on March 23rd.
