May 2, 2008

Moon Township, PA - The Wagner Track & Field team heads to Robert Morris University for the 2008 Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships this weekend with high hopes of exceeding the ranking they received in the pre-season coach's poll.

Their hopes are not mere fairytale aspirations but solid expectations that can be met. In the pre-season poll, the Wagner women were ranked eighth with the men ranking ninth. But so far this season, head coach Joe Stasi has brought together a group of athletes who rank among the top of the NEC.

The 2007-2008 NEC Championships MVP and team indoor MVP Alaina Alfano (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) has proved throughout the year that she is a threat both on the track and in the field. Her 6.00m mark in the long jump not only tops the NEC but qualifies her for the NCAA Regionals for the second straight year. The junior also ranks second in the conference in the 110m hurdles and fourth in the triple jump.

When she is not doing it on her own, Alfano teams up with seniors Jocelyn Ford (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic), Jessica Ford (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) and freshman Jessica Balling (Seaford, NY/MacArthur) in the 4x200m relay team. This year, this relay combo ran a program record time of 1:43.94 at the Penn Relays.

The 4x200 is the not only relay record broken by the Fords and Alfano either. The three have teamed up with senior Samantha Snukis (St. Clair, PA/Nativity BVM) this year in the 4x400 for the Wagner record breaking time of 3:56.94 at the Penn Relays.

Flying solo, Snukis brought home the school record in the 800m and was named the Wagner Outdoor MVP of the 2008 season. Jocelyn Ford used her speed to propel herself above the rest in the Grymes Hill record book with a 58.25 time in the 400m.

Freshman Mishelle McNamara (West Covina, CA/West Covina) may be a newcomer this year but she made her presence known around the conference. Her 3.50m clearance in the pole vault at the METS Championships is .10m better than any other NEC competitor. And do not count out senior Gwendolyn Moore (Teaneck, NJ/Teankeck)to make some noise. She has hurled her way into the Wagner record books and to this year's ECAC Championships with a 42.81m javelin toss that ranks third best among the female launchers in the NEC.

The men's side boasts Wagner outdoor MVP Coleman Edmond (Kingston, NY/Harmony Prep MI) who exchanged his football cleats for track spikes earlier this year with great success. So far this season, the freshman has achieved NEC Track Athlete and Rookie Athlete of the Week heights while ranking third in the conference in the 100m dash.

Where Edmond does it with sprints, James Johnston (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) does it with distance work. The sophomore currently ranks third in the NEC in both the 3,000m steeplechase and 1500m run.

In the field, senior Bryan Pagliuca (Ronkonkoma, NY/Connetquot) will be using his final NEC Championships to make his last conference jump high jump a good one. He is currently fourth in the NEC with a 6' 4.75" bound at the METS Championships and do not be surprised if he surpasses his season high for he is the current Wagner record holder with a 6' 9.5" leap during his freshman campaign.

The Green & White will not only battle conference foes this weekend but will also fight the elements. The forecast for the NEC Championships calls for rain on the first day, Saturday May, 3 with a possibility of the precipitation sticking around for day two of competition. To keep current with the NEC Championships, visit the NEC Website.