Manhattan University Athletics

Princeton, N.J. (April 7, 2007)?Although the northeast weather has not gotten any warmer, Manhattan Track and Field is getting healthier since Spring arrived three weeks ago.  After suffering through an injury-plagued winter, the Jaspers provided more evidence that they are improving in health on Saturday at Princeton's Sam Howell Invitational.

Manhattan especially appears to be on the mend in one of its strongest areas, the jumps.

Interestingly though, the biggest performance by a Jasper came from a jumper, but not in a jumping event.  Sophomore Kosta Randjic, who qualified for the NCAA East Region Championships as a rookie triple jumper, guaranteed himself a return trip to the NCAA Regional by virtue of his result in Saturday's men's javelin competition.  Randjic finished second with an NCAA qualifying throw of 62.05m (203' 7”).  Randjic did not receive an opportunity in 2006 to display his great ability in the javelin because of a fractured wrist suffered at the season-opening 2006 Baldy Castillo Invitational.

Dexter Jules and Denis Street, Jr., who have not competed at full strength since 2006, made their presence felt in Saturday's men's triple jump.  Jules, a junior, won his signature event by recording a mark of 14.45m (47' 5”).  After posting a strong long jump performance in his return to the runway at last weekend's SCSU Owl Invitational, Street, a senior, triple jumped 13.92m (45' 8”) to finish seventh amongst the field.

On the women's side, freshman Malin Marmbrandt continued along the comeback trail with a winning performance in the long jump.  Marmbrandt, who injured an ankle during her second triple jump attempt at February's MAAC Indoor Championships, produced a top leap of 5.49m (18' 0.25”) to edge out Dartmouth's Cassandre Tanner's mark of 5.48m.  Right behind Tanner in third place was Lady Jasper senior Tiina Magi. 

Taking a break from the triple jump, Magi, the 2007 ECAC triple jump champ, also competed in the high jump on Saturday.  Magi claimed second by clearing 1.60m (5' 3”), but the most encouraging news from the event was the performance of junior Caitlyn Kjolhede.  The program's indoor record holder for the high jump, Kjolhede moved up another notch on the bar by jumping 1.55m (5' 1”).  Kjolhede, who was denied an opportunity at repeating her 2006 MAAC Indoor title due to a foot injury, cleared 1.50m in her return last week, when she used a mere three-step approach.

By clearing 2.00m (6' 6.75”), 2007 All-East high jumper Chris Sole finished third in the men's field.

Junior Shanelle Lawrence made certain that Manhattan had a presence in the women's triple jump, despite the absence of Magi.  With a mark of 11.27m (37'), Lawrence claimed second place and was only four centimeters short of winning the event.

Manhattan received more encouraging signs from the track, where freshman Diane Torsell and sophomore Kelton Cumberbatch showed additional progress in their recoveries.

After having her promising indoor season cut short due to a hamstring ailment, Torsell has begun to return to form.  The rookie sprinter from Indiana fought a slight headwind to clock in at 12.74s for second place in the women's 100m.

Cumberbatch, a local product of Yonkers, N.Y., returned to competition last weekend for the first time since the 2006 outdoor campaign.  On Saturday, Cumberbatch improved on his 400m hurdles result of a week ago by winning the men's field in 54.40s.  Last week at SCSU, Cumberbatch, who placed second at the 2006 MAAC Outdoor Championships with a time of 53.98s, ran 54.84s.

In the women's field of the 400m hurdles, junior Erin Gregorek placed third with her time of 1:07.26.

The Manhattan men posted another strong showing in the hammer, which is not unusual for a program that has had at least one hammer thrower qualify for the NCAA National Championships in 21 of the past 23 outdoor seasons.  Junior Paul Peulich finished fourth overall, and second amongst collegiate entries, in the event with a top throw of 59.91m (196' 7”).  Right behind Peulich in fifth place was freshman Seid Mujanovic.  The rookie from Serbia had his best day as a Jasper thus far, recording a mark of 57.51m (188' 8”).

Peulich, who finished 10^th overall at the 2006 NCAA Championships with a mark of 63.66m, would have been third overall in Saturday's field had it not been for the presence of former Jasper and NCAA All-American Paddy McGrath.  McGrath, who competed at the 2000 Olympic Games for Team Ireland, won the competition at 67.63m (221' 10”) to bump Peulich and Mujanovic down a spot.

With the championship portion of the outdoor season only weeks away, the increased production of the aforementioned Jaspers is coming at an opportune time.  Before the Metropolitan Championships commence on April 21, however, Manhattan will take a trip to Knoxville, Tenn. for the Sea Ray Relays on April 14 and 15.