June 27, 2006
PHILADELPHIA -
Sparked by a talented and experienced group of seniors in the middle distance led by Mike DiDio, Matt Petrocci and Andrew Thomas, the Saint Joseph's University men's track team turned in impressive seasons on the indoor and outdoor ovals in 2006. That trio, along with junior Teddy Meyers, provided SJU with an opportunity to capture top places and score team points at nearly every race.
The three seniors made their presence know early during the indoor season by capturing event wins and meeting IC4A qualifying standards in their primary events at SJU's first few meets. They would then proceed to lower their times, while enhancing their level of competition, as the season progressed.
At the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships, the Hawks were at their best as Thomas (500m), Petrocci (800m), and Meyers (5000m) each captured individual conference titles and improved their IC4A standards helping the Crimson and Gray to a fourth place team finish. Petrocci and Thomas also picked up Second Team All-A-10 honors, along with senior Joe Bieret and sophomore Matt Weaver, as members of the 4x400 relay.
The team carried its strong showing forward at the IC4A Championships in Boston, Mass. with four individuals and three relays competing. Thomas was the team's top individual finisher. He tied his own school record in and was the top individual qualifier in the 400m trials with a time of 47.22. He then went on to place fourth overall, despite tweaking a hamstring in the final.
The 4x800 which included Petrocci, freshman Brendan Kearney, senior Brad Schmidt and DiDio also scored for SJU placing seventh in the final in a season-best time of 7:33.78. Others who competed for SJU were Meyers and sophomore Will Rowland who were ninth and 28th, respectively, in the 5,000 meter and DiDio was 15th in the mile. SJU also qualified 4x400 and Distance Medley Relay teams.
The outdoor season featured similar success for SJU as a record four individuals captured conference crowns and the the team matched its second best finish at the A-10 Championships.
The team made its mark at the prestigious Duke and Virginia/Onesty Invitationals where Petrocci, Thomas, DiDio and sophomore Bobby Staten all achieved IC4A qualifying standards. DiDio won the 1500 meter at Virginia. Two more Hawks met IC4A standards one week later at Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational including sophomore Rich Ryan in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and Meyers, who posted the second fastest 5,000 meter time (14:06.23) in SJU history to meet NCAA Regional qualification.
At the A-10 Outdoor Championships, hosted by conference newcomer Charlotte, the Crimson and Gray ran as well as they had all season setting team season-best marks in 10 different events to place fourth overall. DiDio led the Hawks' contingent capturing the meet's Most Outstanding Performer honors.
DiDio, who set a meet record en route to capturing the A-10 crown in the 1500m (3:50.19), captured Second Team All-A-10 honors by anchoring the 4x800 relay and placed third in the 5000. Joining DiDio as Conference champions were Meyers, Thomas and Petrocci. Meyers set an A-10 meet record in winning the 5000 in a time of 14:33.25. Thomas then went on to win the 400 in a time of 47.36 and Petrocci was victorious with a time of 1:51.57. Petrocci and Thomas also ran legs of the team's A-10 champion 4x400 relay along with Bieret and Staten. All four individuals and the 4x400 automatically received NCAA Regional qualification. Petrocci and DiDio also were teammates with Kearney and Schmidt in the 4x400 that placed second. Other top performances came from Joe Mohn (1500m) and Staten (100m) who each placed third narrowly missing All-Conference honors.
The Hawks closed out the year with its top runners competing at both IC4As and the NCAA Regional Championships. At IC4As in Princeton, N.J., Meyers was the top individual finisher. The lone Hawk to score, he placed sixth in the 5000 meter. Staten also qualified for the finals after finishing second in his preliminary heat, but had to withdraw due to a muscle strain. At Regionals, both DiDio and the 4x400, which posted a season best time of 3:11.71, placed 13th.
