GREENSBORO, N.C.  – The Rutgers men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up competition at the 2009 NCAA East Regional on Saturday, May 30, at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T State. Seven Scarlet Knights competed for the men’s squad while a pair represented the women’s side.

The top five finishers in each event automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark, while the remaining competitors who finished in the top 12 will have the opportunity to earn an at-large bid to the championship.

RU had three student-athletes in the men’s javelin throw, including senior Brian Burkhardt (Dallas, Pa.) who led the group, finishing eighth with a mark of 62.58 meters. He was followed by sophomore Christopher Bradley (Nutley, N.J.) and junior Jeremy Pennino (Watchung, N.J.). Bradley placed 18th with a throw of 59.07 meters and Pennino took 21st, recording a throw of 57.86 meters.

Senior Bruce Owens (Wenonah, N.J.) competed in a pair of events on the track, running the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Owens narrowly missed qualifying for the finals of the 200-meter by just four one-hundredths of second as he placed 10th overall with a time of 20.93. In the 100-meter, Owens placed 23rd, clocking a time of 10.70.

Senior Brian Duggan (Staten Island, N.Y.) competed in the pole vault, finishing in a tie for 17th after clearing a height of 4.91 meters. A pair of rookies on the men’s squad saw their first action at the NCAA East Regional with freshman Adam Bergo (Plainfield, N.J.) in the high jump and classmate Monroe Kearns (Jackson, N.J.) in the 800-meter dash.

Bergo cleared a height of 2.05 meters to finish tied for 21, while Kearns clocked a time of 2:03.93 to place 36th.

On the women’s side, freshman Alex Kelly (Florham Park, N.J.) and senior Jessica Bandy (West Keansburg, Pa.) competed in the javelin throw with Kelly placing 16th with a throw of 42.38 meters, while Bandy finished 17th with a mark of 41.58 meters.