WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's and men's track and field teams finished the 2009-10 indoor season ranked 15th (men) and 16th (women) in the USTFCCCA NCAA Team Regional rankings. Both teams have been ranked in the top-16 all season long in the strong Mid-Atlantic region.

With regional rankings based solely off of individual performances, the new regional rankings are based off of the same process as national rankings. If someone is ranked in the top-20 in their event in their region, they get points toward a regional ranking, just like if someone is ranked in the top-35 of the country, they get points for their team in the national rankings.

The men's team finished with 75.63 points led by one of the most solid throwing crews on the East Coast. Juniors Vincent Elardo (Forked River, N.J./Lacey) and Tom Ciccoli (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) were ranked fifth and sixth in shot put while seniors Shawn Sabo (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and Victor Rizzotto (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) finished 11th and 18th in the region for a slew of team points. In weight throw, Elardo, Sabo, and Ciccoli finished eighth, 12th and 19th, respectively, in the Mid-Atlantic as the throwers accounted for more than half of the Hawks points. Powerhouse Georgetown (BIG EAST) finished atop the Mid-Atlantic region with over 320 team points.

A handful of athletes led the women's team as the Hawks finished with 48.43 points total points. After shattering the school record last week, the DMR team of Laura Embrey (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional), Colleen Rutecki (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), Emily MacEwen (South Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) and Cailin Lynam (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) finished eighth in the region, leapfrogging more than 10 places from the week before. Also finishing eighth in the Mid-Atlantic were high jumpers Lindsey Walsh (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) and Alison Day (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and triple jumper Brittany Gibbs (Matawan, N.J./Old Bridge). Penn State (Big Ten) finished as the top team in the region, dominating with over 460 team points.

Both squads have the second highest regional ranking amongst Northeast Conference foes with only Long Island (Northeast Region) having a higher ranking (seventh - men's, 15th - women's).

The Hawks return to the track for the beginning of the outdoor season on Friday and Saturday March 19th-20th when MU travels to Lakewood, N.J. for the Georgian Court Mini-Meet. Meet start time is yet to be determined.