Monday, Feb 24, 2020
First championship in 13 years
by Rider Sports Information
The Rider University women's track and field team won their first MAAC indoor title in 13 years on Sunday, Feb. 23. While competing in the MAAC Indoor Championships at the 168th Street Armory, the Broncs held off second-place Quinnipiac by half of a point, while six-time reigning champion Monmouth, Iona and Manhattan rounded out the top five.
"I am so proud of their efforts in every event this weekend," says Rider Head Coach and Women's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year Bob Hamer. "We had so many people dig deep and overcome obstacles and adversity."
After winning three gold medals on Saturday night, the Broncs continued their strong weekend with two more first-place finishes. Senior Ronetta Hunter won the shot put (14.12m) while sophomore Mary Ilelaboye won the 400m in a PR-setting time of 56.92.
Five silver medals were also won, led by senior Kristin Siegle's ECAC-qualifying 4:57.11 in the mile and the 4x400m team of Castronovo, Farrah Miller, Ilelaboye and Quinn Bithell raced to second place in an ECAC-qualifying mark of 3:52.45 that broke a Rider record.
Sophia Castronovo placed second in the 400m behind Ilelaboye with a time of 57.16, Allie Riches earned a second-place finish in the pole vault (3.50m), 4x800m relay team of senior Katie Ward, junior Paris Boucher, Siegle and senior Nicole Berry's ECAC-qualifying 9:14.09.
Also on Sunday, the men's track and field team finished second at the MAAC Indoor Championships.
Along with winning the championship, Rider Head Coach Bob Hamer won the Women's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year award at the post-meet awards ceremony, which marks his sixth time achieving this honor.
"Our mantra all weekend was 'Rider never gives up, Rider finds a way,' and they really lived it today," Hamer says. "We closed out the meet with great performance after great performance and that is what is required to win."
The Broncs will head to Staten Island, N.Y., and the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex to take part in the Fastrack Last Chance Meet on Friday, Feb. 28, before competing in the ECAC Indoor Championships in Boston, Mass., on March 6.