The Plattsburgh State track and field team has experienced plenty of success this year, and the Cardinals want this trend to continue as they approach the SUNYAC Outdoor Championships.
The Cards have used each weekend and every meet during the season to propel themselves and build toward the results they want.
Last weekend, PSUC traveled to Troy, New York, to compete in the RPI Capital District Classic, and the Cards saw many achievements on both the men’s and women’s side.
The highlight of the meet for the women’s team was a first place finish in the 800-meter relay by the team of senior Megan Schweizer, juniors Lindsey Davenport and Lauren Perschetz and freshman Samantha Reagan. The group finished with a time of 9:43.47, and the result also resulted in an ECAC qualifying mark.
Schweizer said the success the team has had is all about having the right mindset and maintaining the routine it has been utilizing all season.
“It’s just always about staying positive, trusting in the training and just doing what we are doing,” Schweizer said.
In other events, the Cards also saw many other SUNYAC qualifying marks.
The athletes who secured these marks included sophomore Haley Mooney in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Reagan in the 400-meter dash, Ibukun Charles in the 800-meter run and senior Emma Deshaies and freshman Hannah Despres in the 5,000-meter run.
In field events, sophomore Heather Chapman secured SUNYAC marks in discus throw, hammer throw and shot put, while freshman Liz Berry notched a SUNYAC qualifier of her own in shot put.
To close out her last regular season event, senior Kelly Siry tallied two conference marks in the 400-meter hurdles and the javelin throw.
As the season dwindles down, the Cards are beginning to reflect on everything this year’s senior class has meant to PSUC over the years, and the seniors themselves appreciate their time as Cards.
“It definitely has impacted who I am today. It’s a big part of my identity,” Deshaies said. “(You learn) a lot of good things like work ethic and time management and make a lot of friendships along the way. You also learn about yourself.”
While the women tallied many qualifying marks, the men did, as well.
Just like the women’s team, the men’s success was also highlighted by a relay event.
Seniors Luke Potash and Kyle Jones and sophomores Zach Grandy and Sobaan Ayub finished second in the 100-meter run with a time of 43.34, which resulted in an ECAC qualifying tally.
The Cards most notable individual achievements came in the 400-meter dash as four athletes, including Grandy, senior Esa Jessop, freshman Brian Fabian and junior Ethan Vinson, all secured SUNYAC qualifying marks.
PSUC assistant coach Andrew Krug said there has been plenty of success for the Cards this season, and he expressed his gratitude to the entire team and also acknowledged the seniors and how much they have meant to the team.
“First and foremost, I just want to thank them for all the time and effort that they put toward our program,” Krug said. “That’s huge, and it’s contagious to the classes of student athletes underneath them.”
The SUNYAC Outdoor Championships will take place at Oneonta, with competition beginning today at 3 p.m. and more events to follow Saturday.
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