RIVERDALE, NY (May 15, 2002) - Head men's and women's track & field coach
Dan Mecca announced the signing of 17 newcomers to Manhattan College. The 2002-03 season will mark the first time in school history that the track and field team will have a roster of over 70 student-athletes.
"They will be a tremendous help for the program," claims Coach Mecca, "They will bring strength to the distance program for both the men and the women and I am looking forward to a great year".
Joining the women's squad is transfer Svetlana Zaytseva from Russia, who will compete in the long and triple jumps. Zaytseva, the University of Moscow transfer, holds the Europe record for the 19 and younger age group in the long jump at 21'6". Also joining the Lady Jaspers from overseas will be Charlotte Nordh (Hammaro/Sweden), who will compete in the 200m and the 400m. From the New York area, the Lady J's will welcome hurdler and high jumper Renee Foti (Washingtonville H.S.), weight thrower Marina Liander (Notre Dame H.S.), and distance runners Natalie Johnson (Sachem H.S.), Ginine Lucarello (William Floyd H.S.), Sarah Mollard (Burnt Hills H.S.), and Marissa Oliveri (Notre Dame H.S.). New Hampshire high school sensation, Nicholle Davis (Nashua H.S.) will also join the 2001 roster.
On the men's side, Michael Freeman (Bishop Hendricken H.S./Rhode Island), the younger brother of Jasper's All-American Jacob Freeman, will be joining Manhattan in the fall. Freeman is the National High School Champion in the hammer and in the weight throw. Mecca also signed Tyler Raymond (Scotia-Glenville H.S./New York), who is the New York State Indoor Champion in the Mile, cross country runner Greg Lipari (Suffern H.S./New York), who ran 12:56 at the New York High School Marathon, sprinter Russel Stevens (Kellenberg H.S./New York), distance runners Josh Conklin (Pine Bush H.S./New York) and Andres Constantin (Karlstad/Sweden), sprinter Esteban Oliveras (Notre Dame H.S./New Jersey), and pole vaulter Kirill Nazarov (University of Moscow/Russia).
