SJC Track and Field News

Track’s Jenna Monahan Advances to Championships in Russia

(4/26/08) - Jenna Monahan competed in the Junior Women's 5,000 meter race-walk at the largest colligate track meet of the spring season - the Penn Relays. The first athlete to represent St Joseph's College in this prestige's meet, Jenna finished second with a time of 26:37.11.  Her next competition will be in Russia on May 10 as she will represent the USA at the Junior World Track & Field Championships competing in the 10,000 meter race-walk.  Best of luck Jenna!

Women’s Team Has Best-Ever Showing at DeSales

(4/19/08) - St. Joseph's women team had their best performance as a team, in its three-year history at the Collegiate Track Conference Outdoor Championships held at DeSales University in Allentown PA.  Jenna Monahan led the team with her second place finish in the 3,000-meter race-walk (15:24.8).  She was closely followed by Katie Williams who placed sixth.  Elyse Patrella placed fifth in the 10,000-meter run followed by Kim Castaldini in seventh.  The ladies totaled 17 points for 13th place out of the 21 teams participating.

Patrella and Kissinger Finish in Top Three at USMMA

(4/12/08) - The track & field team participated in the "Coach O" Invitational at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY.  The highlight of the meet for the team was in the 10,000-meter run as freshman Elyse Patrella surged out with the early leaders at the gun and maintained her position throughout the race to finish second.  Her finish time (45:22.26) was a new St. Joseph’s record. 

Patrella was closely followed by junior Bridget Kissinger - whose finishing kick placed her third overall (45:24.39).  Freshman Kim Castaldini finished sixth.

Complete Results

Jenna Monahan Qualifies for Junior National Race-Walk Team

(4/5/08) - Freshman Jenna Monahan qualified for the junior national race-walk team on April 5 at a USAT&F sponsored 10,000 meter race-walk.

The participants were vying to be United States champions and qualify for the national team which competes around the world during the summer months.

Jenna finished third in her age group (juniors) and qualified for the junior national team. Congratulations Jenna!

(4/5/08) - The Golden Eagle track & field team competed in the Engineer Games hosted by NJIT at the Lincoln Park Track in Jersey City, NJ.  Bridget Kissinger placed fourth in the 1500-meter race and was followed closely across the finish line by Elyse Patrella in sixth. Katie Williams placed 4th in the 800-meter race followed by teammate Mary Fromm in eighth.

Brandon, Monahan, and McClenon Sets New Marks at MAC Meet

(3/11/08) – The track and field team completed the indoor portion of their season Saturday as they competed at the USA Track and Field MAC Indoor Championships held at the 168th Street Armory in New York City.

Emily Brandon placed third in the triple-jump with a distance of 8.90 meters, establishing a new St. Joseph’s record.  Tim McClenon also set a new school record in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:06.43.  The previous mark was held by Bryan Knipfing (2:07.42). 

Jenna Monahan set an SJC record with a first place finish in the 3000-meter racewalk (16:01.43).  Teammate Katie Williams finished behind her in second place.  Bridget Kissinger placed third in the 1,500 meter run and Shawn Flower placed third in the men’s triple-jump.

SJC Track and Field Competes at 2008 CTC Championships

(2/12/08) - This past weekend the track & field team competed at the 2008 Colligate Track Conference’s annual indoor championships at the Coxe Cage on the Yale University campus.

On Saturday, Jenna Monahan won the women's mile racewalk with a surge on the final straight-away as she held off two competitors to win in a time of 7:43.46.  Monahan’s time is a new school record and she earned CTC all-conference with the performance. Katie Williams placed 6th with a time of 8:39.87. Together, their efforts earned 13 points for SJC.

Sunday’s session started with Jeanine Encizo, Tyler Eckoff and Tom Ballato running in the Mile competition and all had a strong performance.  Bridget Kissinger continued her improvement in the 3,000 meter run with a personal record of 12.19.99 - dropping 13.5 seconds off her previous best.  Emily Brandon placed 9th in the triple jump.  In the 4 x 800 meter relay the team of Katie Williams, Mary Fromm, Jeannine Encizo and Bridget Kissinger combined for a 4th place finish, scoring 5 points for SJC.

Garth Joseph had a great day of competition setting new SJC records in the 200 meter dash (23.61) and the 400 meter dash (54.47).  The men's 4 x 800 meter relay ended Sunday's competition with a spirited performance by Tyler Eckoff, Tom O'Brian, Justin Donovan and Tom Ballato.
 

Track and Field Team Off to Record Breaking Start

(1/14/08) - St. Joseph’s Men’s and Women’s Track and Field team started their season with a snow cancellation in December but since then they have plowed through several events around the region setting several new records.

Highlights from the Golden Eagles open meet at the 168th Street Armory on January 4th included freshman Jenna Monahan setting a school record in the 1 mile race-walk (8:00.68), qualifying her for the Millrose Games 1-Mile National Championships on February 1.  Senior Jessica Ragazzi also had a St. Joseph’s record setting performance in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.49 seconds. 

The team found success at the USA Track and Field Long Island Open at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood on December 16.  That time, Jenna Monahan set an SJC record in the 1,500 meter race-walk, with a time of 7:44.0.  Teammate Katie Williams finished just behind her at 8:13.4

This past Sunday, at the second USA Track and Field Long Island Open at Suffolk, Monahan set another school record in the 3,000 meter race-walk with a time of 16:04.0.  Junior Jessica Durant tied her own SJC record in the 55-meter dash (7.6 seconds).

Their season continues through May with the CTC Championships, ECAC Championship and several open meets at the 168th Street Armory, St. John’s University and the United States Merchant Marne Academy.
 

Track and Field Attends CTC Winter Championships  

(2/14/07)  - The men's & women's track team concluded the indoor half of their season with the Collegiate Track Conference Championships this past weekend in New Haven, Connecticut.

At Saturday night's competition, Stephanie Kenny continued her season long improvement in the race-walk with a 5th place finish in the 1500-meter race. Her time of 9:12.75 was a personal best and established a new St. Joseph’s record. Also competing was Kathleen Baker in the 20 lb. weight throw. Baker’s throw of 9.34 meters (or 30' 7") was also a personal and school record.

On Sunday, the meet started with the 1 mile run and Katie Baudier came from behind with a strong finishing kick to place 8th overall in her fastest race of the season.

In the 4 x 200-meter relay Patricia Diaz, Lisa Gagliardo, Jessica Ragazzi and Jessica Durant combined their talents for a season best performance of 1:56.62. Their time established a new SJC record. In the race, Jessica Durant anchored the team to a first place finish in their heat, but she was set-up for the win by Jessica Ragazzi's strong 3rd leg performance.

Jessica Durant (7.85 seconds) and Jessica Ragazzi (7.97 seconds) later continued their strong performances with personal bests in the 55-meter dash. Jessica Durant finished the day with a 200-meter performance of 27.99.

Other highlights from the meet included Bridget Kissinger running a personal best in the 3000-meter run with a time of 12:41.44, dropping 35 seconds off of her previous best for that distance. Mike Paxson threw the 16lb shot 10.85 meters or 35'71/4", setting a personal record. Previously this season: Kathleen Baker threw the 4K shot 10.08-meters (or 33'1") setting an SJC record, Amanda Beekman had a shot put toss of 9.35 meters and Lisa Gagliardo ran 29.51 for the 200-meter dash.

Perez Jumps into ECAC Championships with Strong CTC Performance

(4/23/06) - It may have been raining on Long Island, but in Allentown, Pennsylvania it was sunny and warm and the Golden Eagle’s performance reflected the weather at the CTC Conference Championships held at DeSales University.

Henry Perez placed 2nd in the long jump and on his last attempt in the triple jump competition he leapt from 5th place to 2nd place and the silver medal with a personal best jump of 45'11/2". Perez, a junior, will continue to compete for St. Joseph's as he has qualified for the Division III ECAC Championship meet on May 18 and 19 in both the long jump and triple jump.

Bryan Knipfing also qualified for the ECAC Championships in the 5K but has elected to run his first Long Island Marathon. The senior bested his school record in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 15:31.96. He dropped 10 seconds off his personal best time with a valiant race. Knipfing’s courageous effort and pace surges during the highly contested race earned him a 4th place finish.

Also in the 5K race, freshman John Edson bested his personal mark to 17:46.63, lopping off over 30 seconds in his best race of the season. The men’s team ended the day in 13th place.

The women’s team also concluded their season with a 13th place finish out of the 25 participating institutions.

Freshman Katie Baudier dropped 30 seconds from her 3,000-meter steeplechase time which establishes a new SJC record of 13:33.85 and placed her 8th. Jessica Durant, also a freshman, raced to a new school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.72 seconds.

The 4 x 100-m relay composed of Alicia Bridgewood, Tracie VanWart, Jessica Ragazzi and Jessica Durant placed 6th with a time of 54.53 seconds.

Track & Field Sets Five New SJC Records with Great Day

(4/18/06) - The St. Joseph's Track and Field team had their best day of the season so far on Saturday as the Eagles competed with 27 other teams at the Coach "O" Invitational at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY.

Henry Perez stayed undefeated for the season in the long jump with a first place finish. In the triple jump he placed third with a leap of 13.30 meters, which is a new school record.

Bryan Knipfing continued to improve in the 5,000-meter distance race with a time of 15:42.93. His time was good enough to earn a first place finish and set a new school record.

The women's 4 x 100-m relay of Traci VanWart, Katie Baudier, Jessica Ragazzi and Jessica Durant continued to get faster with a time of 54.90 seconds. Their time also establishes a new school record.

Jessica Durant added a second school record to her credit with a time of 13.21 in the 100-meter dash. Jessica Ragazzi also established a school mark in the 200-m dash with a time of 27.90.

The Golden Eagles next meet is the Colligate Track Conference Championships at DeSales College in Pennsylvania on April 23.

Golden Eagles Perez, Baudier, and Knipfing Continue to Roll

(4/3/06) - St. Joseph's attended the St. John's Monday Night Races at DaSilva Field and continued to set personal bests as they competed with nine other institutions.

Katie Baudier set a school record in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 14:07.82 and placed 2nd in the event. Joe Arnold placed 5th in the men's 3K steeple with a time of 12:28.13.

Jessica Durant and Jessica Ragazzi continued their success in the sprinting events. Durant placed 4th in the 100-meter dash and Ragazzi finished 5th. Ragazzi also finished 5th in the 200-meter dash.

Bryan Knipfing continued the men's success in the distance events with a win in the rain soaked 3000-meter race.

Henry Perez remained undefeated in the long jump with a solid 22'6" leap in the cold wet conditions.

John Edson improved in the 1500-meter run setting a personal record with a time of 4:47.57, good for a 6th place finish.

Perez Finishes 1st in Long Jump, Knipfing Sets Mark in 5000

(4/1/06) - St Joseph's Outdoor Track & Field team began their spring season at the 9th annual Wagner College Invitational. The Golden Eagles were one of twenty-five teams that participated in the non-scoring competition.

Henry Perez began his quest to break the 23 foot barrier in the long jump with a leap of 22'10", good for a 1st place finish. He continued his success with a leap of 40’9" in the triple jump, finishing in 5th place.

Bryan Knipfing set a personal and school record in the 5000-meter distance race with a time of 15:50.82 and a 3rd pace finish. Bryan vanquished numerous runners whom he had previously lost to during the indoor season.

Not to be over shadowed by the men, the ladies 4 x 100-meter relay placed 5th due to strong relay legs from anchor Jessica Durant and third leg Jessica Ragazzi. Alicia Bridgewood had a stellar lead-off leg handing off to Tracie VanWart, who ran the second leg. Their time was good enough to qualify them for the CTC Conference Championships on April 23.