MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD TEAMS CLINCH SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE MAAC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ (May 4, 2003) - The Manhattan College men's and women's track & field teams clinched the 2003 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships for the seventh consecutive year today. The men's squad totaled 272 points, while the women totaled 298 points in the two day championships.


Senior Rajne Svenssohn (Karlstad, Sweden) was named the 2003 MAAC Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer after totaling 47 points for the Jaspers. Svenssohn placed second in the javelin (60.97m), discus (44.30m), high jump (1.94m), pole vault (3.65m) and in the 400m hurdles (55.70m). He also placed fourth in the 110m hurdles at 15.87 seconds and seventh in the shot put at 13.28m. Junior Karin Larsson (Garphyttan, Sweden) was named the Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer after totaling 43 points for the Lady Jaspers, set a new meet record in the shot put and brought home two MAAC titles. Larsson broke the 1999 shot put record of 13.08m set by Manhattan graduate LaCole Fields today with a mark of 13.36m to capture the title. She also was crowned champion in the triple jump at 11.25m, placed third in both the pole vault (2.90m) and high jump (1.55m), fourth in the discus (34.24m), fifth in the hammer (39.90m) and sixth in the long jump (4.98m).

Junior Kurt Forsyth (Summit, NJ) captured first place in both the 200m (21.86) and in the 400m (49.00). Junior Nils Pettersson (Boden, Sweden) won the pole vault clearing 3.65m. Junior Adeniyi Omisore (Providence, RI) earned his second outdoor title in the triple jump with a leap of 14.24m. Freshman Anders Constantin (Uddevalla, Sweden) earned his second MAAC title today by tossing the shot put 15.15m, while senior Michael Pellet (Croton, NY) earned his last MAAC title as a Jasper in the discus with a mark of 45.14m. All first place winners of each event advance to the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Regional held n Fairfax, VA on May 29-31.

Sophomore Samantha Griffin (Jersey City, NJ) captured first place in the 100m dash (12.53) and as a member of the 4x100m relay. Senior Stefani Allen (Levittown, PA) won her last MAAC title as a Lady Jasper today in the 200m (25.08) and as a member of the 4x100m relay. Sophomore Teresa Frierson (North Ridgeville, OH) won the 400m in a time of 56.93 seconds and also as a member of the 4x100m relay. Freshman Jessica Palm (Karlstad, Sweden) captured her second MAAC title today after winning the long jump yesterday. Palm was the anchor of the 4x100m relay for a winning team time of 48.45 seconds.

Other seniors who performed well today were: Magus Ahlen (Karlstad, Sweden), who placed third in the triple jump (13.78m), fourth in the high jump (1.89m), and seventh in the 200m (22.54); Matthew Spring (Marcy, NY), who finished fourth in the 1500m (3:58.07); Elliot Belin (Bronx, NY), who placed fifth in the triple jump (13.14m) and seventh in the long jump (6.19m); Lauren Primerano (Trenton, NJ), who placed second in the pole vault (2.90m) and third in the discus (37.62m) today; Marisa Rego (New City, NY), who took third place in both the 800m (2:22.08) and 1500m (4:47.21); Jamie Yedowitz (Yonkers, NY), who finished seventh in the 800m (2:26.10); and Julie Wozniak (Jackson, NJ), who placed second in the high jump (1.55m) and in the fifth in the triple jump (10.14m).

Manhattan College head coach Dan Mecca was named the 2003 MAAC Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year.

Men's Final Scores


Manhattan 272 - MAAC Champions

Rider 230

Iona 147

Marist 67

Saint Peter's 33

Canisius 8

Women's Final Scores


Manhattan 298 - MAAC Champions

Rider 236

Marist 124

Iona 50

Canisius 41

Saint Peter's 4

Click here Final MAAC Results.