Track & Field

Jones Leads Strong Showing at West Chester Invitational

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (4/12/08) - Juniors Erin Jones (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and Jason Staggers (Jackson, N.J.) and freshman John Badala (Scotch Plains, N.J.) each recorded victories for the Kean University outdoor track and field teams at the West Chester University Collegiate Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Jones was victorious in a pair of events for the women's team, capturing the 100-meter hurdle title and tying for the pole vault victory, while Staggers and Badala won the long jump and shot put, respectively. 

In the 100-meter hurdles, Jones crossed the finish line in 17.27 seconds and tied for first in the pole vault, clearing 2.88 meters. 

The women's 1600-meter relay team of freshman Asha Winters (Ewing, N.J.), freshman Marisa Petrone (Jefferson Twp., N.J.), junior Demeka Pressley (Trenton, N.J.) and freshman Jamie Grenger (Hazlet, N.J.) were victorious with a time of 4:11.28, just shy of meeting the qualifying standard for the ECAC Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  The same quarter finished second in the 400-meter relay in 51.80 seconds.

Individually, Pressley (pictured right) placed third in the 400-meter dash (1:02.15), while freshman Jan Bush (Abington, Pa.) was fifth in the shot put (11.22 meters).

In the men's meet, Staggers was first in the long jump (6.41 meters) and qualified for the ECAC Championships with a leap of 13.38 meters, good for second place on Saturday.  He also added a fifth place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.80 meters.

Badala had another strong showing in the field events, earning three top seven finishes on the afternoon.  He led a host of Cougar throwers in the shot put, finishing first with a throw of 13.62 meters.  Badala added a fourth-place finish in the discus throw (38.58 meters) and was seventh in the javeline throw (47.67 meters).

Sophomore Rick Jaeger (Hazlet, N.J.) placed third in the shot put (13.43 meters), while senior Reggie James (Willingboro, N.J.) was fourth in the 800-meter run (1:58.18).

In the relay events, the foursome of freshman Matt Gough (Jefferson, N.J.), James, Staggers and freshman Josh Chavanne (Elizabeth, N.J.) qualified for the ECAC Championships with a time of 3:26.81 in the 1600-meter relay.

The 400-meter relay team of freshman Joe DiMeglio (Metuchen, N.J.), junior Sean Oyelaja (Lagos, Nigeria), freshman Marques Wallace (Vauxhall, N.J.) and Staggers placed fifth in a time of 43.73 seconds to meet ECAC qualifiying standards.

The Cougars return to competition next weekend, traveling to DeSales University for the CTC Championships on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20^.