The author is a member of the team.
This March, SUNY Cortland Track and field team sent ten members to the NCAA D3 Track and Field National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, putting out promising performances, including one All-American finish.
Cortland qualified eight athletes for individual events: Brett Morse, 60m hurdles; Coltrane Goring, 400 meters; Zach Nyhart and Dane Sorensen (Sorensen did not attend the meet due to injury), Pole Vault; Jean-Andre Sassine and Amarian Hughes, triple jump; Isaiah Brunache, shot put; and Danielle Fisk, high jump.
Cortland also qualified a men’s 4×400 meters relay team that consisted of Coltrane Goring, Harrison Gavalas, Evan Jensen, and Douglass Knapp.
To qualify for the national meet, competitors must be ranked in the top 20 in Division 3 in their respective events; relays must be ranked in the top 12. Placing within the top eight of an event at the National Championships grants you the honor of ‘All-American”.
Qualifying for a meet of this magnitude is no small task and can be the source of a lot of mental stress and pressure on the athletes to perform. Dealing with the heightened competition is difficult, especially if it is their first time in this environment.
One of Cortland’s seven first-time national qualifiers, Isaiah Brunache may have felt this pressure most of all.
“Didn’t get the best throws, not what I wanted. But I’m happy to be here”, said Brunache.
The freshman placed 20th with a throw of 14.01 meters (45′ 11.75″) at the national meet, off from his initial seeding of 13th, yet there is no reason for him to hang his head. Brunache is the youngest of the individual qualifiers, and getting accustomed to a high-stakes meet in his first collegiate season bodes well for his future.
The other freshman joining Brunache at nationals was Gavalas. Joined by his relay mates, junior Evan Jensen, and seniors Knapp and Goring, the 4×400 meters relay team had squeaked in the national meet, being the 12th team out of the 12th granted qualification. Essentially playing with house money, they couldn’t finish in a worse spot than where they started and ended in 10th place with a time of 3:17.26s.
None of the members were happy with their final time but were pleased to not only make it to the meet – all members of the relay team were first-time qualifiers, but to exceed expectations. Their overachieving run was largely due to a monster anchor leg by Goring.
Going forward, the relay has its eyes set on making it back to the national stage in outdoors and a chance to compete for an All-American spot.
Individually, Goring, like Brunache, didn’t produce his desired performance in the 400meters, but was positive about the experience overall.
“Dropped a few places in the seedings. But it’s a good learning experience, my first nationals,” Goring said.
Goring came into the meet seeded 12th and ran a 48.97s in the 400 meters to place 18th nationally. For the sprinter, the experience motivates him for what’s to come.
“I’m learning the ins and outs of everything. I’m happy to be here, but I’m not satisfied”.
Cortland’s triple jumpers, Sassine and Hughes joined in making their national meet debuts in a bittersweet outing.
Sassine improved on his seeding, jumping a lifetime personal best 14.43 meters (47′ 4.25″) to earn a 12th place finish, above his initial 17th place entry. The senior jumper had statistically the best meet of his career, but feeling he has so much room to improve, it’s been hard for him to be completely happy with the outcome.
Hughes, the seventh seed entering the meet, finished 11th with a jump of 14.55 meters (47′ 9″). The jumper from Newburgh, NY, was disappointed not to break Cortland’s indoor triple jump record or not to be an All-American, but is adding those accomplishments to a list of goals for the coming outdoor season. Among them an individual and team SUNYAC title.
Not every member of the team was there for their first National Championships. The red Dragons brought three veteran competitors with them to Birmingham.
Daniel Fisk made this her third appearance at NCAA’s, the third out of her four seasons at Cortland. She finished 14th in the field of competitors on a best jump of 1.61 meters (5’ 3.36”) based on tiebreakers after being seeded 16th due to a series of tiebreakers.
Going forward, she wants to work early in the outdoor season to qualify for nationals in May and work to get the little details down so she can go for the big heights.
The second of the three ‘returners’ was one of the most dominant forces in Division 3 track and field this past season, Brett Morse.
Up until the national meet, the 60-meter hurdler had been crowned SUNYAC and AARTFC regional champion while going undefeated the entirety of indoor competition. He started in the fourth seed and was a a major threat to make the finals and finish within the top eight.
Morse had a rough go at the hurdles during the prelims. A poor start and lack of rhythm, causing him to hit hurdles, plagued the race. Ultimately, Morse placed 17th with a time of 8.29s.
However, the Saratoga Springs, NY, native isn’t sulking and is ready to go outdoors in his quest for a national title.
“This isn’t a happy moment, but we can’t be too hard on ourselves,” said Morse.
“One bad meet, but a great season. Come back stronger outdoors and get what’s mine!”
And in a culmination of hard work and struggle, the third returner, Zach Nyhart, got what was his, All-American honors in the pole vault.
Nyhart’s had a tremendous indoor season. Second all-time in Cortland history, SUNYAC champ, All AARTFC regional honors, and SUNYAC Male Field Athlete of the Year. The senior ended vaulter ended his season with a seventh-place finish, clearing a height of 4.85 meters (15′ 11″).
“It feels great. A lot of work and dedication went into this season, and to see it all pay off is incredible”, Nyhart said.
He’s also remaining humble, focusing on improving even more to reach a higher ranking in outdoor nationals this May.
“I placed seventh, and I want to get fifth or above. So definitely going to keep my head down, grinding and working, and we’ll see what happens.”
Head Coach Steve Patrick emphasized the importance of enjoying the moment and embracing the competition throughout the group’s stay in Alabama.
“It can be hard to keep perspective at a meet like this since there is such a premium on earning All-American status that we can lose sight of when we’ve done well,” said Patrick.
He understands the meet is a great opportunity and a launchpad toward success in the upcoming outdoor season.
And if the Indoor National Championships were any indication of what will come, the Red Dragons look to be dangerous come championship season.