EWING, N.J. (April 28-29, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Camden track team took a small group to the Lions Invitational Friday and Saturday at The College of New Jersey, but that small group accomplished big things.
 
Sophomore Cameron Dobbins (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) and freshman Matt Gross (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) both posted ECAC qualifiers in the 100-meter dash and the javelin, respectively. For Dobbins, it was his fifth ECAC qualifier in the 100-meter dash out of the six meets he has run the event, finishing seventh of 81 competitors in a time of 11.11. For Gross, meanwhile, it was his first ECAC qualifier after coming close on a couple of occasions. He finished seventh out of 30 in the javelin with a personal best of 53.20 meters, passing the qualifying mark of 52.73.
 
Sophomore Drew Harper (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) had another fine showing in the hammer throw. The program record-holder in the event with a 39.86-meter throw on April 22, Harper had a 39.09-meter throw at the Lions Invitational to finish 17th of 29.
 
The Raptors' trio of women javelin throwers turned in a stellar showing in the field of 40 competitors. Freshmen Jordan Erskine (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) and Kyleigh Stevenson (Carneys Point, NJ/Penns Grove) tied for 17th place with a throw of 31.50 meters. Another outstanding freshman, Nicole DeMarco (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City), finished 20th with a personal best throw of 30.90 meters.
 
The Scarlet Raptors' talented freshman class includes Nicolette Stafford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional), who finished 41st of 73 athletes in the 200-meter dash (28.27).
 
Juniors Brianna Kearse (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) and Michelle Impoco (Somerdale, NJ/Highland Regional) fared well in the field of 27 hammer throwers, as Kearse finished 10th (37.02 meters) and Impoco placed 20th (30.69).
 
A pair of Scarlet Raptors competed in two events, with junior Eric Gilchrist Jr. (New Castle, DE/Christiana) placing 20th of 76 in the 400-meter dash (51.39) and 44th of 90 in the 200-meter dash (23.62), both personal bests. Freshman Gus Gyamfi (Willingboro, NJ/BCIT-Westampton), meanwhile, was 55th at 400 meters (55.01) and 95th of 118 at 800 meters (2:11.66).
 
Sophomore Tom Meyer (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) finished 69th in that 200-meter field in a personal best time of 24.81.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday, May 6, when it travels to Rowan University for the opening day of the two-day New Jersey Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Lions Invitational