March 14, 2005

Orlando, FL - The Adelphi University track and field team traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the Disney Relays on March 11-12. The men's team improved four places from a year ago to finish 5th overall with a total of 74 points, while the women jumped five spots to finish 6th with 39 points scored.

The women took hom five top five finishes this year, led by senior Katie DiPietro (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) who took home fifth in the 5,000 with a time of 19:16.15. The women's 4x100 meter relay also had a strong showing, taking fifth overall with a clocking of 52.82, while the sprint medley relay (4:36.91) and the distance medley relay (14:21.17) both claimed fourth place. The shuttle hurdle relay was Adelphi's top relay, taking home second overall in a time of 1:20.34.

The men were led by junior Pete Ninivaggi (Lynbrook, N.Y.) who placed in the top eight in all four events he competed in, including taking home first place in the shot put with a heave of 45-11.75. Ninivaggi also took home second place in the javelin with a toss of 146 feet, breaking the existing Adelphi record by over 27 feet. Ninivaggi picked up 11 more points for Adelphi by finishing fifth in the Discus (122-11) and eighth in the hammer throw (102-6 ft.).

The men's 4x800 meter relay team took home third overall with a time of 8:17.8, while the 4x1600 meter relay team equaled that finish with a clocking of 18:42.19. The sprint medley relay team stopped the clock at 3:40.14 for fourth place overall. Sophomore Mark Pollard (Deer Park, N.Y.) cleared 5-5.75 in the high jump to tie for second place overall and leaped 19-11.75 to pick up third in the long jump.

Adelphi returns to action on Saturday, March 26 when they travel to Monmouth, New Jersey to compete in the Monmouth Season Opener.