RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Head Coach Dan Mecca has announced the Manhattan College track & field/cross country team's 2011-12 recruiting class. A total of 32 newcomers (16 men, 16 women) will join the track & field squad next season, and 14 of those athletes (seven men, seven women) will also run cross country for the Jaspers.
On the men's side, Manhattan adds seven to the cross country roster. Jacob Adams (Yonkers, N.Y.) has run 2:32 in the 1000 meters, and also runs both the 1500 meters and 3000-meter steeplechase. While at Lafayette High School, Stephen Chantry (Williamsburg, Va.) notched a personal-best of 10:00.43 for two miles. He'll be relied upon in the longer distances at Manhattan. Anthony Colasurdo (Laroka Harbor, N.J.) qualified for the New Jersey Meet of Champions in the mile in 2011. He has personal-bests of 1:55.30 in the 800 meters and 4:01.98 in the 1500.
Running for Mansfield High School, Joe Cole (Mansfield, Mass.) posted a personal-best time of 17:07.53 over 5000 meters during the 2010 cross country season. Kevin O'Brien (Attleboro, Mass.), who has the versatility to run anything from 400 meters to two miles, will likely focus on the long distance events. Greg Perrier (Dix Hills, N.Y.) qualified for the final in the 800 meters at the 2011 New York State Outdoor Championships, posting a time of 1:52.75. Local product Antonio Rosa (Bronx, N.Y.) attended high school at Fordham Prep. He's run 17:46 over three miles in cross country and 10:18.50 in the steeplechase.
Abdias Myrtil (Dix Hills, N.Y.) should help the Jaspers immediately in the sprints. Myrtil was a three-time all-state selection at Half Hollow Hills West High School, where he helped the team win seven county championships. The school record-holder in the 55 meters, he was also a part of the Long Island record-setting 4 x 400 meter relay team and the 4 x 200 relay squad that was nationally ranked. Joe Rossi (Malverne, N.Y.) is primarily a 400-meter runner, but he can also move up to the 800 and 1500 meters. Rossi attended Valley Stream North High School on Long Island. Jaylen Henderson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) ran the 400 meters and both hurdle events at Bishop Loughlin High School.
In the jumps, Manhattan has added Trevell Moxey (Lansdale, Pa.) and pole vaulter Savio Paul (Yonkers, N.Y.). Moxey, who also played football at North Penn High School, has personal-bests of 46'6 in the triple jump, 22'8 in the long jump, and 5'8 in the high jump. Paul was an All-Westchester County selection as a senior after becoming the first vaulter in Iona Prep history to clear 15'1. He set an indoor personal-best of 14'9 (the No. 3 mark in New York State) en route to winning the 2011 CHSAA championship. Paul's Iona Prep teammate Neil Pinnock (New Rochelle, N.Y.) competed at the 2011 New York State Outdoor Championships in the pentathlon. He also leaped 41'6¾ in the triple jump during the 2011 indoor campaign.
Edward Brentnall (Atlanta, Ga.) comes to Manhattan from Lovett High School, where he was a High School All-American in the hammer throw as a junior. He has personal-bests of 202 feet in the hammer throw, 154'9 in the discus, and 50'2 in the shot put. Brentnall competed in the weight throw at the 2011 Millrose Games, placing ninth. Phil Ragan's (Belmar, N.J.) specialty is the javelin. Competing for Christian Brothers Academy, he finished fifth in the event at the 2011 Penn Relays with a personal-best throw of 194'5. He was also the 2011 Shore Conference champion in the javelin. Doug Montarzella (Mahopac, N.Y.) will help the Jaspers in each of the throws. His best event is also the javelin.
Among the additions to the women's team are a pair of state champion jumpers-Wahnetah Carty (Gales Ferry, Conn.) and Jordan Rand (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Carty won the long jump (18 feet, 10½ inches) and also placed fifth in the 200 meters at the 2011 Connecticut state championships. Indoors, she had a long jump of 18'5¾, which was the second-best mark in Connecticut during the 2011 season. Rand uncorked a personal-best leap of 40'5¼ to win the 2011 Colorado state championship in the triple jump and earn all-state honors. She also finished third in the long jump at the Colorado state meet, jumping 18'8¼.
Sabrina Spataro (Middle Village, N.Y.) was named Outstanding Field Athlete at the 2011 CHSAA Championships, when she won the long jump with a leap of 18'3½. Spataro led Archbishop Molloy High School to a pair of conference championships. Heptathlete Victoria Fitzgerald (Plymouth, Mass.) comes to Manhattan from Plymouth South High School in Massachusetts. She won the conference title in 100 meter hurdles as a senior.
Manhattan also welcomes pole vaulter Karolin Wagner (Ribbesbuettel, Germany) and thrower Bridget Avila (Brentwood, N.Y.). A converted gymnast, Wagner has only been pole vaulting for two years and already has a personal-best of 3.81 meters (12'6). Avila will provide depth in the throwing events.
In the sprints, Manhattan adds Doreen Horschig (Lumpzig, Germany), Nicole Mainente (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) and Jennifer Stodgell (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Horschig has a personal-best time of 14.05 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles and has also high jumped 1.69 meters (5'6½). The versatile Mainente ran the 100, 200 and 400 meters, as well as both relays, at William Floyd High School. In 2011, Stodgell qualified for the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the 400 meters. She was also a part of the outdoor conference champion 4x100 meter relay squad during her senior year at Holy Names.
The women's cross country team will be bolstered by the addition of seven athletes: Erica Brady (Quincy, Mass.), Alexandra Cappello (Scarsdale, N.Y.), Ciara McKallen (Washingtonville, N.Y.), Shelby Niles (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Johanna Petruski (Toms River, N.J.), Janie Turek (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) and Alyssa Windle (San Bernardino, Calif.).
On the track, Brady was the 2011 Patriot League champion over two miles as a senior at North Quincy High School. Cappello had the top time on the team in four different events during her senior campaign at Scarsdale High School. Her best events are probably the 1500 and 3000 meters. McKallen ran an impressive time of 17:31.12 over the 2.5-mile course at the Manhattan College Invitational cross country meet this season. She also posted a 19:44.7 clocking over three miles at the Section IX Championships. McKallen attended Washingtonville High School.
Niles comes to Manhattan from Trabuco Hills High School, where she ran an impressive 19:03 over 5000 meters at the 2010 California State Cross Country Championships. Petruski was a valuable contributor in both cross country and track & field at Toms River North High School. A capable competitor across the board, her best event is probably the 5000 meters. Another versatile athlete joining the program is Turek. She ran everything from the 200 meters to the 3000-meter steeplechase at Mount Sinai High School. Turek boasts personal-bests of 1:01.92 in the 400 meter hurdles and 6:58 in the 2000-meter steeplechase. Representing Aquinas High School, Windle posted a time of 19:53 at the 2010 California State Cross Country Championships. On the track, she has a personal-best of 5:24.14 in the mile.
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