ESU page at Penn Relays  l  ESU preview

PHILADELPHIA – Junior Matt Tholis placed third in the men's college javelin with a mark of 208-4, just a foot off his 9th-ranked mark in Division II this season, for East Stroudsburg University on the final day of the Penn Relays on Saturday at Franklin Field.

Tholis' mark led the event through the trials and was surpassed by Zach Torrell of Monmouth (213-4) and Dillon Rodgers of Ramapo (211-2) in the finals. Josh Hontz, a senior who is taking a redshirt in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Trials, was second in the event with a mark of 210-10 last year.

Tholis hit a throw of 209-4 on April 1 at Lafayette, his NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark, and won ESU's All-American Meet at 205-8 last weekend.

The men's 4x800m relay was just over a second off the school record of 7:44.04 that was set in 1985, running 7:45.15 to finish eighth in a heat of 14 schools. The Warriors were 20th of 27 schools overall and the top non-Division I finisher.

Junior Mike Saparito and senior Sam Janssen, who dueled in an 800m invitational at the All-American Meet, both ran 1:55.0 splits to lead off and anchor the relay. Freshman Damien Boham ran 1:58.1 on the second leg and sophomore Frank Fezza clocked 1:56.5 on the third. All four are on ESU's top 10 in the 800 and Saparito holds the school record.

ESU alumnus Paul Wagner, a two-time All-American, was second of three competitors in the men's Olympic Development hammer. Wagner, throwing for Shore AC, had a mark of 210-7, just edged by Bob Keogh of Greater Philadelphia TC at 211-4.

The Warriors sent a squad of athletes to Lehigh this week in addition to the 19 that they sent to Penn. The PSAC Championships will be contested next weekend at Bloomsburg.


ESU Results – Saturday

Men's 4x800m Relay  l  Results
20 (of 27), 8 of 14 in heat – Mike Saparito 1:55.0, Damien Boham 1:58.1, Frank Fezza 1:56.5, Sam Janssen 1:55.0 – 7:45.15

Men's College Javelin  l  Results
3 (of 25). Matt Tholis – 208-4