St. John’s graduate student Blessing Egwu took first place in the 20-pound weight throw and the shotput at the Manhattan Opener on Thursday in Riverdale, N.Y.

The Queens native attempt in the weight throw was measured at 18.71m. In the shotput event, she managed to post the measure of 13.61m, passing the minimum for the ECAC championship by .01m. The win also qualifies her for the Big East Tournament coming up in the spring of next year. Egwu won the event last year as well with the best score in the country.

Junior Kesheila Reid placed third in the event in the shot put and fifth in the weight throw. Dominique Eason, a native of Baldwin, N.Y., completed both events in fourth place.

MEN’S SOCCER

Senior defender Jeff Carroll and graduate forward Matt Groenwald received invitations to participate in the 2006 Adidas Major League Soccer combine to be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., from Jan. 12 to 15. The two join a long list of Red Storm players to earn invitations to the prestigious tryout, including six in the past two seasons alone.

The list of combine participants is selected each year by a panel of Division I coaches representing all conferences. The college coaches nominated and voted for players in conjunction with coaches from the MLS. At the combine, the players will be separated into four teams and play in four doubleheaders.