Aug. 5, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - Junior Mike DiDio led an impressive Hawk contingent in the middle distances and long sprints as the Saint Joseph's men's track and field team posted one of the program's most successful seasons indoor, before a variety of injuries caused the team's outdoor campaign to be sidetracked.

DiDio's fleet feet helped him to a pair of A-10 event titles and then carried him to the IC4A Championship at 1,000m, becoming just the second SJU runner since 1979 to earn the Eastern Championship.

DiDio and speedy teammates, seniors Collin Martin and Doug Rick and juniors Andrew Thomas and Andre Laboy, first opened eyes with a fourth place team finish at the Fordham Invitational. They then established the Hawks as a team to watch as each met IC4A qualifying standards against high-level competition at the Penn State National Invitational.

At the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship, DiDio was brilliant winning both the mile in a time of 4:13.24 and the 1,000m in 2:29.04 to guide SJU to a third place team finish. One of nine Hawks to capture All-Conference honors, he was joined on the All-League teams by Martin (5,000), Thomas (400) and Laboy (3,000), as well as the 4x800 Relay (Rick, Thomas, Chris Kessler, Matt Petrocci) and the DMR (Joe Mohn, Andrew Vandegrift, Robbie Meyer and Martin), all of whom finished second in their repective events.

Two weeks later at the IC4A Championships in Boston, Mass., the Hawks posted a tenth place finish, as DiDio led the way. He won his qualifying heat and returned on Sunday to post a victory by just 0.24 seconds in a fast 1,000m field to capture the Individual crown.

Rick (500m) and Thomas (400m) were also both strong winning their qualifying heats and then coming back to place second and third, respectively. Thomas' time of 47.22 was a new SJU indoor record and met provisional NCAA qualifying times. The trio of Rick, Thomas and DiDio teamed with junior Matt Petrocci to form the 4x800 relay that also scored, placing second overall.Several other Hawks, including freshman Bobby Staten (55m), Mohn (3,000), Martin (3,000), as well as the DMR and 4x400, also competed.

An injury to DiDIo put a significant crimp in the Hawks outdoor racing season after the team turned in strong efforts at the highly-competitive Duke and Virginia/Onest Invitationals. In his absence Rick, Thomas and Martin continued to shine.

Rick closed out his career with a flourish. He captured the Atlantic 10 title in the 400m dash in a meet-record time of 47.23, eclipsing the previous best of 47.30. He also anchored the A-10 Champion 4x400 relay, that included Petrocci, Staten and Thomas. Thomas followed Rick across the line in the 400m to place second, while Martin placed second in the Steeplechase.

At IC4A's it was Thomas, who nudged ahead of Rick, as both qualified for the finals at 400m. Thomas placed second overall in a time of 47.39, just 0.07 seconds off of first, while RIck was fifth (47.77) in the event to give SJU a pair of scorers, who helped SJU to place 28th overall. Martin, failed to place, but met NCAA Regional qualifying standards, to round out th eSJU contingent that also featured Laboy (5,000) and Staten (100m).

Seniors Rick and Martin wrapped up their college careers at teh NCAA Regional Championships at Ichan Stadium on Randalls Island. Rick placed 13th in the 400m, while Martin was 30th in the Steeplechase. Thomas, Staten, Rick and Petrocci, also ran in the 4x400 Relay and won their heat.

The outdoor season came to a conclusion one week later as Thomas and Petrocci ran at the NY MAC USATF All-Comers meet. Both runners posted team season best times in their events. Petrocci placed third in the 800m in 1:53.87, but it was Thomas, who was most impressive matching SJU's 29-year-old school record in the 400mand finishing second with a time of 46.80.

Despite injuries during the outdoor season, 2005 once again proved to be a banner year the the Saint Joseph's track and field team. With a healthy DiDio and Thomas and the core of the squad back in the fold, 2006 could be even better for the Crimson and Gray.