With 2nd and 3rd place finishes respectfully at the SUNYAC championships, and a 2nd place finish for the Men at regional championships, it’s definitely safe to say that there have been some very spectacular performances for the Men and Women of Cortland Track and Field.
As National Championship week is now here and we wind down the indoor track season, now would be a good time to highlight some fantastic performances by some individuals on both teams.
BRETT MORSE- SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Another year, another strong championship performance for senior sprinter/hurdler/long jumper Brett Morse. Morse came into the SUNYAC meet with the 6th fastest time nationally for the 60 meter hurdles, and was poised to go top 5 in the 200 meter and long jump. He would virtually do just that, as he would run a 8.08 second 60 meter hurdle race that won him a gold medal in the finals. That time would put him tied for 2nd nationally. He would also finish 3rd place in the 200 meter with a time of 22.29 seconds, as well as finishing 6th with a jump of 21 feet, 11.75 inches. With nationals approaching, Morse is poised to compete for an All-American spot as a hurdler.
MENS 4×400 RELAY- REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Hard to leave anybody off the list that would go on to become regional champs over the weekend, and the men’s 4×400 would hit paydirt and capture the title. The team of sophomore Evan Jensen, senior Douglas Knapp, freshman Harrison Gavalas, and senior Coltrane Goring would come together to run a very impressive 3:17:00 on Friday, which would also wind up being a regional meet record.
AMARIAN HUGHES & JEAN-ANDRE SASSINE – REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The triple jump squad has had a huge year for the Red Dragons, but they shined brightest on one of the biggest stages. Junior Amarian Hughes and senior Jean-Andre Sassine would capitalize on their opportunity as Hughes would take the regional crown with a jump of 14.81 meters, and Jean-Andre Sassine would punch his ticket to nationals after a jump of 14.42 meters, moving him into the top 20. The triple jump squad has been strong all year, including two strong indoor seasons from seniors Alhagie Sesay and Alex Daniel. The Red Dragons will send two representatives in the triple jump to Birmingham, Alabama for nationals, as Hughes and Sassine are poised to leave a stamp on a great season for a top 3 triple jump squad in the nation.
DANE SORENSEN & ZACH NYHART POLE VAULT- UTICA HOLIDAY CLASSIC/SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP
It would be almost criminal if you were to leave out a record breaking performance on this list. Dane Sorenson would go on to break Cortland’s school record in the pole vault with a jump of 5.01 meters. With Sorenson sidelined due to injuries for the majority of the indoor season Zach Nyhart would take the reins and pole vault 5.00 meters at the SUNYAC championships to claim the SUNYAC title. Once Sorenson returns, this could be a duo to look out for during the outdoor season.
ELIZABETH LIRIANO- SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP
What a season that Liriano has put together for the Red Dragons. The senior put together a brilliant SUNYAC championship performance in the 200 and 400 meter races, as she would finish 2nd in the 400 meter, after running a career best time of 58.70 seconds and a fourth place finish in the 200 meter with a time of 25.91 seconds. Outdoor season looks very promising for Liriano, as she looks to end her career with a bang.
DANIELLE FISK – REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Another strong performance on the big stage comes from junior Danielle Fisk. Fisk would take 1st place and be crowned regional champ in the high jump with a jump of 1.65 meters. Fisk has arguably been one of the most consistent Red Dragons of the season. She is currently tied for 10th nationally, and will have an opportunity to compete for a national title out in Birmingham.
WOMEN’S 60 METER GROUP – SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP
In what was probably the best meet overall for the women’s 60 meter squad, freshman Kendall Sobczyk, sophomore Autumn Pittman, and senior Alyssa Labelle put together a strong conference championship performance. On a day where all three women would PR, Sobczyk and Pittman would finish 2nd and 3rd place respectively with times of 7.96 and 7.97 seconds respectively. Labelle would just miss out on the finals, but put together a very strong performance with a time of 8.07 seconds.
These are just some of the major accomplishments that were put together, as both teams have seen a huge amount of success this year. While there are still some members of the team competing at Nationals in Birmingham, the majority of the team will now prepare for the upcoming outdoor season. The first weekend of outdoor meets will occur March 31st and April 1st, as the Red Dragons will split up with meets at Widener University and Hamilton College.