Sixth Northeast-10 Championship; Last in Division II
05/07/2013
By Christopher O'Donnell
The River Hawks women’s track and field team ran, jumped and threw their way into first place once again with their fourth consecutive Northeast-10 conference title. The athletes left their mark individually and as a team on the Division II conference as they prepare to (http://www.uml.edu/News/stories/2013/D1-Rally.aspx) move to the America East Conference in Division I for the fall season.
The River Hawks captured four individual events as well as the 4X800 meter relay at American International College's John G. Hoyt Track & Field Complex, and had nine individual All-Conference athletes. Head coach Gary Gardner was named the NE-10 Women's Coach of the Year for the fourth straight time, including the last two indoor championships.
Senior Antoinette Toussaint was named the Athlete of the Meet and compiled 34 of the team’s 189 points. Toussaint earned the honor for the second time this season – she claimed the title indoors as well, winning the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 3.75 inches, and running a 2:12.4 leg on the 4X800 meter relay team, which placed first in 9:13.23.
In the high jump, Toussaint led three River Hawks in the top four slots. Junior Janelle Clarkson and freshman Alana Kelley shared third place with a height of 5' 1.75''.
Junior Elisabeth Monty also won two events – the 100 and 400 meter dashes – and set meet records in both. She captured the 100 meter hurdles in 14.03 seconds and moved on to win the 400 meter dash in 55.67 seconds.
Junior Candace Greene continued her reign in the shot put with her sixth career title with a throw of 46' 11.75''. Greene led four River Hawks in the top eight places as freshman Kyla Higgins placed fourth with a throw of 37' 8.5'' and senior Robyn Ciriello came in fifth with an effort of 37' 6.5''.
Men Take Second in Championship Meet
Two individual champions and six All-Conference athletes were just not enough to get the men’s track and field team past powerhouse Southern Connecticut State University at the meet.
Cameron Mitchell, a junior, won the 400 meter hurdles in 53.85 seconds and led four River Hawks in the top six places. Junior Devin O'Neill won the javelin with a throw of 192 feet, 7.0 inches. Keith Lewis, a junior who spent the indoor season and part of the spring nursing an injury, came back strong to place second and earn All-Conference honors in the decathlon, winning or placing second in many of the events.
The River Hawks will join the University at Albany, Binghamton University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont in the America East conference this fall.