FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2003

2003 Rhode Island College Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Season Summary

Head Coach Kevin Jackson’s team closed out the 2003 season at the ECAC Div. III Championships, hosted by MIT on May 15-16. The Anchormen finished in a 36th place tie (47 teams) with 6.0 points.

RIC competed at the 2003 New England Div. III Championships, hosted by Bates on May 1-3. RIC placed 14th (23 teams) with a team score of 15.0.

Rhode Island College hosted the 2003 Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships on Sunday, Apr. 27. RIC placed fourth overall (10 teams) and was second (five teams) among Little East institutions.

Senior Brian Carney (Barrington, RI) closed out his career with a 26th place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 25.48 at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 19th in the long jump with a leap of 5.40 meters and 22nd in the 400 meters with a time of 1:03.63 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. Carney placed eighth in the long jump with a leap of 17’01.00" at the Bridgewater State Invitational. Carney placed 27th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.30 at the RIC Invitational.

As a junior in 2002, he posted a season-best time of 1:01.03 in the 400 meters, placing 13th at the Rhode Island College Invitational. Carney placed 17th in the long jump with a season-best leap of 16’09.75" at the Husky Spring Open Invitational.

As a sophomore in 2001, Carney earned All-Alliance/Little East honors as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team, which placed sixth with a time of 47.92 at the Alliance Championships. He placed 15th in the long jump at 14’10.25" and 20th in the 200 meters with a time of 29.62 at the same meet. He placed 10th in the long jump at 16’05.00", a season-high finish, and 24th in the 200 meters with a time of 27.66 at the RIC Invitational. He posted a season-best time of 27.59 in the 200 meters at the Silfen Invitational.

As a freshman in 2000, he placed 16th in the long jump with a leap of 16’01.00" at the Alliance Championships. Carney placed 18th in the 400 meters with a time of 1:05.77 at the same meet. Carney placed 12th in the long jump with a season-best leap of 16’08.00" at the Rhode Island College Invitational.

Carney is also a four-year letterwinner in men’s cross country and indoor track and field at RIC. He is a criminal justice major and a 1999 graduate of Barrington High School.

Senior Joe Padykula (Seekonk, MA) did double duty this spring, competing as thrower in track and field, as well as competing for RIC’s golf team. He closed out his track career by earning All-Alliance/Little East honors in the discus and hammer, placing fifth in the discus at 119’05.00" and seventh in the hammer at 134’07.00" at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 16th in the discus with a distance of 33.10 meters at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. Padykula placed sixth in the hammer with a distance of 123’05.00" and ninth in the discus with a distance of 89’05.00" meters at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. He placed ninth in the hammer with a distance of 37.70 meters and eighth in the discus with a distance of 33.73 meters at the RIC Invitational. Padykula placed 21st in the hammer with a distance of 37.31 meters and 21st in the discus with a distance of 32.14 meters at the Husky Spring Open.

Padykula was also a two-year letterwinner in indoor track and field at RIC. He is a nursing major and a 1999 graduate of Tri-County High School.

Senior Chris Puleo (Barrington, RI) was named the team’s MVP. Puleo closed out his career at the ECAC Div. III Championships, placing 10th in the 400 meters with a time of 49.96.

Puleo earned All-New England honors in the 400 meters, placing second with a time of 49.44. Puleo also placed 13th as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team with a time of 45.64 and 11th as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a time of 3:32.13.

He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 200 and 400 meters, as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relays at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed first overall in the 400 meters with a school record time of 48.83, third in the 200 meters with a time of 22.49 and first as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a school record time of 3:28.26. He placed third as part of the 4 x 100 relay with a time of 44.65.

He placed fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 50.21 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed first in the 400 meters with a time of 49.50 and fifth in the 200 meters with a time of 22.88 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. Puleo placed second in the 400 meters with a time of 50.20 and third in the 200 meters with a time of 22.70 at the RIC Invitational. He placed tenth in the 400 meters with a time of 51.96 at the Husky Spring Open.

As a junior in 2001, he earned All-Alliance/Little East honors as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team, which placed sixth, with a time of 47.92 at the 2001 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed seventh in the 400 meters with a time of 55.24 and 16th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.25. He placed 13th in the 400 meters with a time of 55.84 and 14th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.67 at the Fitchburg State Invitational. Puleo placed 15th in the 400 meters with a time of 55.91 and 18th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.96 at the RIC Invitational. He registered a season-best time of 55.07 in the 400 meters at the Silfen Invitational.

As a sophomore in 2000, Puleo placed ninth in the 400 meters with a time of 53.60 at the 2000 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. Puleo also placed 11th in the 200 meters with a season-best time of 24.03 and 12th in the javelin with a distance of 86’10.00" at the same meet. Puleo ran a season-best time of 53.29 in the 400 meters, placing tenth, at the Connecticut College Invitational. He ran the 200 meters with a time of 24.29 at the same meet. He recorded times of 25.25 in the 200 meters and 54.84 in the 400 meters, placing 14th and tenth respectively, at the Springfield College Invitational. Puleo placed fifth in the 200 meters with a time of 54.84 at the Rhode Island College Invitational. He placed 12th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.19 at the same meet.

As a freshman in 1999, Puleo placed ninth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.09 at the Wesleyan University Invitational. He placed fifth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.41 at the Rhode Island College Invitational. He also placed second in the 400 meters at the RIC Invitational with a time of 52.94. He placed fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 53.01 at the Connecticut College Invitational.

Puleo was also a three-year letterwinner in cross country and a four-year letterwinner in indoor track and field at RIC. He is a criminal justice major and a 1998 graduate of Barrington High School.

Senior Tim Rudd (Warwick, RI) closed out his outdoor career at the ECAC Championships. Rudd placed 15th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:59.57. He also placed 15th as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a time of 3:36.88.

Rudd placed 15th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:58.83, 13th as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team with a time of 45.64 and 11th as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a time of 3:32.13 at the New England Div. III Championships.

He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 800 meters, placing second with a time of 1:56.44, as well as the 4 x 400 meter relay, which placed first with a school-record time of 3:28.26 at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed sixth in the 800 meters with a time of 1:57.35 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed fourth in the 800 meters with a time of 1:59.94 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. Rudd placed second in the 800 meters with a time of 1:57.90 at the RIC Invitational. He placed 16th in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:17.09 at the Husky Spring Open.

As a junior in 2002, Rudd placed 17th as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a time of 3:37.36 at the ECAC Div. III Championships. He placed 14th in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:14.26. Rudd placed 14th in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:08.79 at the New England Div. III Championships. Rudd earned All-Alliance/Little East honors as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team, which placed sixth with a time of 3:35.24 at the 2002 Little East Cnference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He also earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 1,500 meters, placing third with a time of 4:05.34. He placed 15th in the 1,500 meters with a season-best time of 4:01.80 and placed 17th in the 800 meters with a season-best time of 1:58.10 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. Rudd placed second in the 800 meters with a time of 1:58.79 and first in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:06.35 at the Rhode Island College Invitational. He recorded a season-best time in the 5,000 meters, placing 15th with a time of 16:01.52 at the Husky Spring Open Invitational.

As a sophomore in 2001, Rudd was named All-Alliance/Little East in the 1,500 meters, placing third with a time of 4:13.20 at the 2001 Alliance Championships. Rudd was also All-Alliance/Little East in the 800 meters, placing fourth with a season-best time of 2:03.50. Rudd placed 13th in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:12.33, a season-best performance, and eighth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:05.24 at the Fitchburg State Invitational. Rudd placed third in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:14.19 and seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 2:05.58 at the RIC Invitational. He placed 10th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:03.69 at the Silfen Invitational.

Rudd has one season of cross country and indoor track and field eligibility remaining. He is a political science major and a 1999 graduate of Pilgrim High School.

Senior Rob Wahnon (Framingham, MA) closed out his outdoor track career by placing 16th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:15.09 at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 20th in the 400 meters with a time of 1:01.05 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. He placed 24th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.10 at the RIC Invitational. Wahnon placed 37th in the 400 meters with a time of 1:03.52 at the Husky Spring Open.

As a junior in 2002, Wahnon ran a season-best time of 2:17.52 in the 800 meters at the RIC Invitational. He posted a season-best distance of 110’06.00" in the javelin at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. He posted a season-best time of 1:02.72 in the 400 meters at the Husky Spring Open Invitational.

He is a management major and a 1998 graduate of Ashland High School.

Junior Michael Basilico (Johnston, RI) earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 10,000 meters, placing sixth with a time of 35:25.42 at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 40th in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:32.82 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational.

Junior Charles Kuti (Providence, RI) placed 15th as part of the 4 x 400 relay team with a time of 3:36.88 at the 2003 ECAC Div. III Championships. Kuti placed 13th as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team with a time of 45.64 at the New England Div. III Championships.

He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 100 meters, the long jump and the 4 x 100 meter relay at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. Kuti placed eighth in the 100 meters with a time of 11.57, eighth in the long jump with a leap of 19’07.50" and third as part of the 4 x 100 relay with a time of 44.65. He also placed ninth in the 200 meters with a time of 23.68. He placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 19’07.50", tenth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.11 seventh in the 100 meters with a time of 11.74 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. He placed eighth in the long jump with a leap of 18’06.00", 17th in the 100 meters with a time of 12.00 and 14th in the 200 meters with a time of 23.80 at the RIC Invitational.

Junior James Peluso (Johnston, RI) placed first in the pole vault with a height of 11’05.75" at the Bridgewater State College Invitational before an injury cut short his season.

Sophomore Chris Fernandes (Cumberland, RI) placed 15th as part of the 4 x 400 relay team with a time of 3:36.88 at the 2003 ECAC Div. III Championships. He placed 13th as part of the 4 x 100 meters relay team with a time of 45.64 and 11th as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a time of 3:32.13 at the Div. III New England Championships.

He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 400 meter hurdles, as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relay at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed fifth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.50. The 4 x 100 meter relay team placed third with a time of 44.65 and the 4 x 400 meter relay team placed first with a school-record time of 3:28.26. He placed 15th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.14 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed fourth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.81 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational.

Sophomore Nick Heufelder (Falmouth, MA) placed 17th in the 200 meters with a time of 24.67, 14th in the long jump and 11th in the triple jump with leaps of 17’07.00" and 38’00.75" respectively at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 38th in the 400 meters with a time of 55.74 and 18th in the long jump with a leap of 5.47 meters at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed 17th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.22, seventh in the long jump with a leap of 18’05.00" and ninth in the triple jump with a distance of 36’05.50" at the Bridgewater State Invitational. Heufelder placed fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 37’08.00" at the RIC Invitational.

Sophomore Joe Parenteau (Smithfield, RI) placed 15th as part of the 4 x 400 relay team with a time of 3:36.88 at the 2003 ECAC Div. III Championships. Parenteau placed 11th as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay with a time of 3:32.13 and 11th in the 1,500 meter with 4:02.67 at the Div. III New England Championships.

He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in both the 800 and 1,500 meters, as well as the 4 x 400 meter relay at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. Parenteau placed fifth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:05.84, fourth in the 800 meters with a time of 1:59.84 and first as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team with a school-record time of 3:28.26.

He placed seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 1:58.14 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed third in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:07.38 and fifth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:04.70 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. He placed third in the 800 meters with a time of 1:58.80 at the RIC Invitational. He placed 22nd in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:56.98 at the Husky Spring Open.

Sophomore Marc Piette (Woonsocket, RI) earned All-ECAC honors in the hammer, placing third with a throw of 170’10.00". He earned All-New England honors in the hammer, placing fifth with a distance of 165’07.00".

He placed tenth in the shot with a throw of 37’07.25" and ninth in the discus at 102’11.00" at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 12th in the shot with a distance of 11.62 meters and 20th in the discus with a distance of 26.46 meters at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed third in the hammer with a distance of 152’04.00", eighth in the discus with a distance of 95’11.00" and sixth in the shot with a distance of 36’06.50" at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. Piette placed fourth in the hammer with a throw of 49.05 meters at the Husky Spring Open.

Freshman Derek Freitas (North Kingstown, RI) placed 30th in the 800 meters with a time of 3:13.50 at the RIC Invitational.

Freshman Manny Karngar (Providence, RI) broke a bone in his foot at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships, which ended his season prematurely. He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 800 meters, placing first with a time of 1:55.85 and as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team, which placed third with a time of 44.65.

He placed 12th in the 400 meters with a time of 51.43 at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed third in the 400 meters with a time of 50.73 at the Bridgewater State College Invitational. Karngar placed first in the 800 meters with a time of 1:55.70 at the RIC Invitational. He placed third in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:10.30 at the Husky Spring Open.

Freshman Nick Palazzo (Providence, RI) earned All-New England honors in the hammer, placing sixth with a distance of 164’10.00" at the New England Div. III Championships. He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the hammer, placing second with a throw of 153’08.00" at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 11th in the hammer with a distance of 46.50 meters at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed ninth in the hammer with a distance of 43.81 meters at the Husky Spring Open.

Freshman Richard Palazzo (Providence, RI) earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the hammer, placing third with a throw of 148’07.00" at the 2003 Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 20th in the hammer with a distance of 40.22 meters at the Bernard Solomon Husky Invitational. He placed seventh in the hammer with a distance of 38.10 meters at the RIC Invitational.