Riverdale, N.Y. (December 1, 2006)--Neither Nick Newman or Tiina Magi had competed since their record setting performances nearly five months ago, but the two jumpers looked like they were in mid-season form at Friday afternoon's Manhattan Opener, which marked the start of Manhattan Track and Field's indoor season. Newman's NCAA B qualifying mark in the long jump and Magi's new school record in the triple jump led a number of Jasper athletes that posted championship-qualifying marks in their first competition of the winter.
Despite not taking a full approach, Newman produced a new personal record with a leap of 7.54m that also surpassed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard. Today's competition marked the second consecutive meet, Newman has set a new person best. At the Norwich Union AAA Championships this past July, Newman claimed fifth in all of Great Britain with a mark of 7.31m, marking a new outdoor PR for the Manhattan senior.
In the women's triple jump, Magi, who made a habit of breaking school records last year, produced a winning mark of 12.50m to surpass her own indoor school record of 12.32m that she recorded at Princeton University's Jadwin Gymnasium last March. In addition to qualifying for the ECAC Championships in the triple jump, Magi met the qualifying standard for the Metropolitan Championships in the high jump by clearing 1.60m.
Magi was second to only teammate Jessica Jansson in the high jump. Jansson, who took first in the high jump with a mark of 1.65m, also qualified for Mets in the 55m dash with her time of 7.2s.
Junior Chris Sole, who scored at last year's IC4A Outdoor Championships, took first in the men's high jump with an IC4A qualifying mark of 2.06m.
Winning the women's 55m dash was Manhattan freshman Diane Torsell. The Indiana native clocked in at 7.1s in her first collegiate competition to guarantee herself a spot at the Met Championships in February.
Senior hurdler Joe Cruz captured first place in the men's 55m hurdles with his time of 7.6s and guaranteed himself entry into the Metropolitan Championships in the process.
In the throws, Manhattan senior Zoran Loncar and junior Paul Peulich, who have both won an IC4A Championship in the hammer, surpassed the IC4A qualifying mark in the weight throw. Loncar's top throw of 18.24m was tops amongst collegiate entries, while Peulich took third overall with his mark of 17.71m. Former NCAA Champion Thomas Jacob Freeman won the competition by tossing the weight 22.64m, a mark that qualifies him for the USATF Championships.
Junior Rich Reuter had a career day in both the weight and shot put. Reuter won the shot competition with a mark of 14.97m and set a new personal record in the process. Reuter also achieved a new personal best in the weight with his heave of 15.92m.
In the men's triple jump, Kosta Randjic and Dexter Jules punched their tickets to the IC4A Championships. Randjic's mark of 14.50m won the meet, while Jules was the runner-up with a mark of 14.38m. Jules also qualified for the Mets in the 55m dash by clocking in at 6.4s to claim first place. Freshman Michael Monteiro was second to Jules with a time of 6.6s, which also meets the Mets standard.
Manhattan Track and Field continues its indoor season on Friday, December 8 at Princeton's New Year's Invitational.
