The Plattsburgh State track and field team performed remarkably well at the ECAC Indoor Championships.
An abundance of Cardinals received ECAC qualifying marks as a result. A great field of athletes were present at this meet, which enhanced a competitive environment for the athletes. Although the meet was filled with competition, this did not stop the Cards from putting forth their strongest effort.
PSUC used one of the most important skills in a team — teamwork. Bonding for the Cards has impacted one another’s positive results throughout the season.
“I’d be stressed to the max overthinking the upcoming meet and then one of my teammates would say a motivational speech to pull me together,” senior Kelly Siry said.
“Pump your arms! Keep your form!” is what junior Kyle Jones screams from the side line of the racetrack as his teammates dash down the track, keeping them motivated the entire time from the moment the gun goes off at the starting line until athletes come to a complete stop.
Although PSUC’s bond is unbreakable as it continue to grow daily, another element that runs through the Cards is giving every meet their all, thriving off of the competition.
“I’m so competitive that I tell myself every meet that I can run faster,” senior Emma Deshaies said.
When the Cards compete, they focus on the task at hand completely and block out everything else.
“As I’m listening for the gun shot, I black out the entire race just to run as fast as I can,” junior Kyle Jones said.
Overall, the Cards saw a lot of success at the ECAC Championships on both the men’s and women’s side.
Sophomore Ibukn Charles tallied a personal best as she finished sixth in the 500-meter run with a time of 1:19.68.
Finishing with a personal record time of 2:56.79, junior Stephanine Boucher’s came in second place during the 1,000-meter run.
Senior Emma Deshaies solidified a sixth place finish in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:14.31.
The quartet of Charles, Siry, Boucher and freshman Samantha Reagan finished in 12th during the 4×400 meter relay with the fasted time of the season, 4:04.75.
Siry said the team’s latest performance was one of their best.
“Overall, we ran faster than we ever ran,” Siry said.
Looking at the men’s side, the Cards success continued.
Junior Ethan Vinson stole the show. The Newport native claimed first place in the 1,000 meter run, setting a new school record along the way. Vinson became the ECAC Champion with a time of 2:29.24.
Junior Eric Denny took fourth place, setting a new personal best in four of the seven events: The 60-meter dash, long jump, 60-meter hurdles and the 1,000-meter run.
The men’s 200-meter relay team consisting of senior Luke Potash, junior Kyle Jones and sophomores Sobaan Ayub and Brian Fabian took eighth place, hitting their fastest mark of the indoor season with a time of 1:30.54.
Individually, Potash took 17th place with a time of 22.52 and Jones secured 19th place with a time of and 22.63 in the 200-meter dash.
Overall the Cards are devoted to track and field, stopping at nothing to constantly improve and flourish throughout the season by any means. Although the Cards are devoted to improving after each meet, the team is taking time to rest before their the outdoor season begins.
“Being able to rest and recuperate means so much to us as a team because we’ve been working so hard,” Siry said.
Email Cardinal Points at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
