Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan track and field team had to update the record books on multiple occasions this season.

The indoor season began in December at the Crowell Open, hosted by Army West Point. Some of the top performers there include but are not limited to RJ Decker taking second in the weight throw, Michael Hennelly taking second in the 3000m, and Kaya Simpson finishing in 5th in the 60m hurdles.

On the women's side of the meet, Andria Scaglione started the indoor season strong with a first-place finish in the mile. Ava Kowal made her first appearance on the track as a Jasper, a two-sport athlete, competing in the 800m and coming in third place.

The teams would not compete again until the new year, running in the MLK Tribute meet on Staten Island. The women's throw came out in full force, sweeping the podium. Leading the charge was Kristin Stickdorn, who took first, Mary Gill took second, and Alexandra Caraher completed the sweep in third. Scaglione won her second event of the year, taking the 300m crown. Bella Cannizzo finished third in the 3000m too.

The men turned in a handful of winning performances too. The 800m featured a Jasper sweep, with Justin Jordaens, Andrew Simard, and Johnelle Joe finishing 1-2-3. That was not the only sweep that occurred that day, with the weight throw also being swept by the Green and White. RJ Decker, Myron Corpuz, and Joseph Pelio took first through third. Hennelly won his second race of the year, winning the mile, while Jaxon Newton finished right behind him. Other event winners that day were David Kema in the high jump, Brandan Chan winning the 3000m, and the 4x400m taking home the crown.

At the Ramapo Opener, Scaglione made it three in a row with a win in the 5000m. At this point, all three wins have come in different events. Decker took home another win in the weight throw. The other winners that day were Ivan Kytovchenko in the pole vault, and the 4x400 team captured another win.

Up next in the indoor season was the Dr. Sander Invite, a meet at which Decker continued to shine, finishing second ahead of throwers from Power Five schools across the country.

The following week the Jaspers ran at the Monmouth Invitational. Justin Jordaens won the 800m, with Brandan Chan taking second. Bella Cannizzo won her first collegiate event that day, winning the 3000m.

Up next was the Metropolitan Championships. The men managed to defend their title, winning in back-to-back years, but it came down to the final event. The Jaspers won with a team score of 117, edging second-place Rowan who finished with a score of 116. The meet came down to the afternoon's final event, the 4x400 relay. The Jaspers relay team of Noah Jefferson, Brian Oduor, Jay Glenn, and Harrison Alonzo rose to the occasion, edging out the foursome from Fordham, winning by less than one second, with Alonzo running the anchor, crossing the finish line in 3:18.91. Other winners from that day include Joe, Decker, and Jordeans.

The women's team turned in a strong showing, coming in fourth in the Met Championships. Scaglione won two events that afternoon, taking home the crown in the 3000m and the 5000m.

The indoor MAAC Championships were highlighted by gold medals, a school record, and major awards for the Jaspers. The gold medal recipients were Decker and Stickdorn in the weight throw. Kaya Simpson set the school record in the 60m hurdles while Stickdorn was named Field Performer of the Meet while Lytovchenko was Male Rookie of the Meet, finishing second in the pole vault. Both teams finished in fourth.

Decker ended up being the first Jasper to take home the IC4A crown for the first time since current throws coach Patrick McGrath won the weight throw title. Decker's top mark of 19.93m (65' 4.75"), barely beat out a thrower from Rhode Island, who launched his weight 19.25m (63' 2"). This was the first weight throw title for Manhattan in 30 years.

The Jaspers then shifted their focus to the outdoor season. The outdoor season kicked off at the site of NCAA Regionals, Jacksonville, Fla. A small contingent of Jaspers made the trip to Sunshine State, and all performed well. The 4x400 team set the table for what would come in the outdoor season, winning the event.

The strong indoor season in the throwing cage carried over to the start outdoor season, with two victories in the hammer throw. The dynamic throwing duo of Decker and Stickdorn took home the first of many wins, with Decker setting a PR for himself with a winning toss of 62.57m (205' 3"), winning by over 20 meters. Two more PRs came on the women's side, with Stickdorn's winning toss of 57.75m (189' 6") and Mary Gill's fifth-place toss of 54.29m (178' 1") serving as a new PR for the freshman.

In April, the Mets rolled around once again. This time, both teams were on the podium, each coming in third. On the men's side, Decker, Lytovchenko, and Hennelly each won events. As for the women, Scaglione won yet another event, this time the 5000m. Joining her in the metaphorical winner's circle was Stickdorn in the hammer throw. Gill finished right behind Stickdorn for a second-place finish.

History would be made the next time the Jaspers took to the track. At the Larry Ellis invite, Stickdorn shattered the hammer throw program record with a top mark of 59.09m (193' 10").

Decker continued his dominance at the Rider Invitational, picking up another win in the hammer throw while setting a new PR in the event with his throw of 63.73m (209' 1"). Two other Jaspers found themselves in the top five in the event, with Pelio and Myron Corpuz finishing in fourth and fifth with throws of 49.81m (163' 5") and 49.28m (163' 5"). Corpuz's throw was a new PR for the freshman.

Nicola Scaglione earned herself a first-place finish in the 5000m, crossing the finish line in 17:21.96. The performance was a new PR for the senior, beating her previous best by over 30 seconds.

The 2023 Outdoor MAAC Championships had the Jasper squad headed out to Emmitsburg, Md. Decker added another gold medal to his collection, winning the hammer throw (63.68m, 208' 11"). The 4x400 team on the men's side captured the MAAC title.

On the women's side, Stickdorn toppled the meet record in the hammer throw, finishing with 57.70m (189' 4"). The Jaspers swept the podium, with Gill earning a silver medal while Alexandra Caraher left with a bronze medal. Some other top performances of that weekend include silvers for Hennelly, and Noah Jefferson and a bronze medal for the 4x100 team. On the women's side of the medals, Stickdorn added one more with a gold--the discus.

Nicola Scaglione earned a bronze medal in the 3000m steeplechase but also set a new program record in the event, finishing at 10:48.59. Stickdorn was named Field Athlete of the Meet, completing her award sweep over both seasons.

A small contingent of Jaspers seasons qualified for the IC4A/ECACs in Fairfax, Va. Gill earned a silver medal while Stickdorn earned a bronze in the hammer throw. Decker earned a silver medal to advance to NCAA Regionals.

Three Jaspers showed well enough to advance to the next meet in the postseason, the NCAA East Regional. The throwing trio of Decker, Stickdorn, and Gill earned the chance to return to Jacksonville and compete.

Returning to the Sunshine State, the trio of throwers turned in solid performances to cap off their seasons. Decker finished 29th with a top mark of 60.78m (199" 5'), while Gill and Stickdorn finished 31st and 36th with top throws of 57.38m (188' 3") and 56.42m (185' 1"), respectively.

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