West Long Branch, New Jersey –Monmouth University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams are off to fast starts thanks to some area athletes. After claiming wins at the season-opening MAC Classic held in Monmouth’s Multipurpose Activity Center, where the men scored 162 points and the women had 170, on Dec. 10, they traveled to Bronx, N.Y., for the Manhattan Jasper Invitational on Dec. 13-14. The Hawks achieved four IC4A qualifying marks on the men’s side and two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) marks on the women’s side during the meet held at Draddy Gymnasium.Junior Lauren McDonald (West Essex Regional) set a school record in the pole vault (12-6). McDonald won the pole vault and qualified for the ECAC with her vault, as did teammate Brittany Papa (High Point Regional), who was second at 11-3¾. more
