Bridgewater, NJ - The Wagner College women's and men's track & field programs were awarded three weekly Northeast Conference (NEC) awards for performances at the Bucknell Invite and Larry Ellis Invite. Both meets took place from Saturday, April 13 to Sunday, April 14.
On the women's side, junior Gia Comerford improved her own Wagner College outdoor track & field record by 14 seconds in the 3000m Steeplechase. Comerford placed seventh out of 14 runners, clocking in at a time of 10:33.30. Comerford's time ranks as 64th in the nation.
Previously, Comerford set her original record at the Sam Howell Invite where the Staten Island native finished the event in 10:47.32 to dethrone an eight-year record set back by Danielle Iacampo back during the 2016 outdoor season.
For Comerford, this is her first NEC honor of her collegiate career. Last weekend, senior Ruth-Ann Chambers was tabbed as the conference's Track Athlete of the Week after setting a program record after placing first in the 400m hurdles at the Colonial Relays. Chambers completed the event in 59.77.
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On the men's side, sophomore Dario Sina de la Fuente also set a new Wagner College outdoor track & field record in the javelin throw. As a result, Sina de la Fuente was named the conference's Field Athlete of the Week.
The Palencia, Spain native launched the javelin 65.07m on his third attempt, to earn first place in the event at the Larry Ellis Invite. Sina de la Fuente beat second-place Sheamous McCarroll of Army West Point by 8.3m.
Sina de la Fuente's mark breaks a 64-year record set by Neill Johnson back in 1960, when he threw the javelin distance of 64.88m to set the original record.
Sina de la Fuente's new mark ranks 66th in the nation, and first in the NEC.
For Sina de la Fuente, this is his second NEC honor of his collegiate career. Back on April 12, 2023, Sina de la Fuente was named the conference's Rookie of the Week for his showing at the 2023 METS Outdoor Championship. There, the Spaniard out-threw the competition by more than seven meters after reaching 63.05m on his fourth attempt.
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Freshman Khalid Brown was named the NEC Rookie of the Week after clearing a distance of 7.26m in the long jump at the Bucknell Invite. This distance of 7.26m ranks first in the NEC, as Brown is one of two freshmen to hold a top mark in an event throughout the 2024 outdoor campaign.
Within the event, Brown placed second in an event that saw 41 competitors. Brown placed second behind Bucknell's Bernard Kemp who marked a distance of 7.35m.
For Brown, this is his first NEC honor of his collegiate career.Â
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This outdoor season, the men's program has amassed two Track Athlete of the Week honors, two Field Athlete of the Week honors, and three Rookie of the Week honors.
Additionally, freshman June Fernandez, sophomore Julio Martinez, junior Ruth-Ann Chambers, and senior Jason Marchese were all named NEC Prime Performers for their showings at either the Bucknell Invite or the Larry Ellis Invite.
Next up, the Green & White will travel to Lawrenceville, NJ for the Rider Invite on Saturday, April 20.
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