WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Rowan University’s Aaron Braxton won the discus and set two records at the Monmouth Invitational on Saturday.
Braxton (so. Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) had a winning throw of 167’ 10” (51.15 meters) that broke the meet and school record. The meet record of 166' 4" was held by Monmouth's Gary Roskoski (2002). The previous Rowan mark was 167’ 2” (50.96 meters) by Chris Bostard (1996). His distance was a NCAA provisional mark (47.50 meters). In addition, Braxton took fifth place in the shot put with 48’ 9” (14.86 meters).
In the javelin, Sean Biehn (fr. Edgewater Park, NJ/Burlington City) and Sean Corey (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) were second and third respectively with 186’ 2” (56.74 meters) and 184’ 4” (56.20 meters). Andrew Vasta (so. Randolph, NJ/Randolph) had a fourth place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:15.46.
Rowan’s 4x400 meter relay finished fifth in 3:26.96. The relay included Taylor Kirk (fr. Oceanport, NJ/Shore Reg.), Chima Nwosu (sr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing), John Barbadoro (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) and Joe Minch (sr. Yardville, NJ/Bordentown Reg.). Bryan Pittman (sr. New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) took sixth place in the 100 meters with a time of 11.38. In the 400 meters, Nwosu finished 13th in 51.30.
On the women’s side, Eileen Batten (fr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) had an eighth place in the javelin with a toss of 111’ 2” (33.88 meters). Batten was the only Division III athlete in the final. Chereyse Hepburn (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Oakcrest) took ninth in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 16.61.
Ali Briggs (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) finished 12th in the discus with a toss of 101’ 8” (30.98 meters). Karen Johnson (fr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) was 14th in the shot put with 33’ 9.50” (10.30 meters) while Briggs was 19th with 31’ 6.5” (9.61 meters). Dannielle Warren (so. Woodbury, NJ/Woodbury) was 14th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:11.09 and 15th in the long jump with 15’ 9” (4.80 meters).
Next week, Rowan travels to Widener University on Saturday, March 31 for the Danny Curran Invitational at 10 a.m.
