By Jessica Landman
The mens and womens track and field team traveled to SUNY Brockport to compete in the SUNYAC track and field championship. Also attending the meet was Geneseo, Cortland, Oswego, Brockport, Buffalo State, Oneonta, and Fredonia.
The men’s team finished seventh overall with a score of 15 tying with SUNY Oswego. The overall winner for the men’s track teams was SUNY Geneseo with a score of 237, the runner up being SUNY Cortland with 152 points.
The women’s team finished fourth overall with a score of 33, overtaking fifth place Oneonta by just one point. SUNY Geneseo women’s team placed first overall as well with 337 points. Second place went to SUNY Brockport finishing with a score of 156 points.
The competition began on Friday February 25 in the triple jump pit. Sophomore Micheala Schaffer qualified for triple jump finals after three preliminary jumps. In finals, she jumped 10.94 meters earning her a spot at the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference championships. She finished the event in 6th place receiving three points.
Both men’s and women’s shotput Throwing began at 3:30 with three Plattsburgh throwers. Sophomore Journey Myricks threw 11.14 meters landing her in seventh place earning the cardinals two points. Junior Kaitlyn Bjelko threw 10.58 meters and finished in 13th place. Close behind was Bliss Rhoads who threw 10.24 meters and came in 14th place. Then at 6:00, Aiden Tous represented Plattsburgh’s mens throwers in the shot put as well. He finished in 10th place after throwing 12.67 meters.
Beginning on the track at 5:45 was the women’s 400 meter dash preliminary trials. Two athletes competed in this event. Jessica Landman finished in 14th place with a time of 62.37 seconds. Senior Janyll Barber came in sixth place clocking in at 60.29 seconds, qualifying for the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference Championships. She placed sixth also earning her a spot in the 400 meter finals that took place on Saturday. Also running the 400 meter for the men’s team was Cody Monnat who ran a 52:20 second and finished in 13th place.
Brexton Montville ran in the 200 meter preliminary race earning second place finishing in 7.01 seconds. In the 800 meter prelims was junior Aislyn McDonough who came in second place with a time of 2:20.07. She also qualified for the 800 meter finals as well as the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference championships.
Rebecca Block represented Plattsburgh in the 5,000 meter finals placing sixth with a time of 19:41:99 and earning the team three points. Michael Brockway also ran the 5k and he finished in 15:50.93 and placed 13th overall. The final individual event for Friday’s competition was the men’s 200 meter prelims. Montville ran in 22.74 seconds earning him fifth place and a spot in the 200 meter finals on Saturday.
Ending Friday’s competition for the cardinals was both the mens and womens distance medley relays. For the women’s team Skylar Misiaszek ran the 1200 meter, Deanna Zoch ran the 400 meter, Natalia Castro ran the 800 meter and Sarah Smith ran the mile. They finished with an overall time of 14:00.31 placing them in sixth earning three points. For the men, Noah Bonesteel ran the 1200 meter, Levi Sochia ran the 400 meter, Liam Gildea ran the 800 meter and Logan Van Buren ran the mile. Ending in fifth place with a final time of 11:04.14.
Saturday started in the field with women’s long jump. Schaffer jumped 4.70 landing her in 15th place. The field continued with the women’s weight throw. In eighth place was Bjlko throwing 13.30 meters and earning one point for the team. Also throwing weight was Myricks with a distance of 11.55 meters and Rhoads with 11.14 meters. The final field event for the cardinals was men’s long jump with Aiden Masten jumping 6.09 meters finishing in 10th place. On the track, Block began with the 1600 meter finals finishing in fourth with a time of 5:24.90. Bonesteel followed in his own mile run placing 13th overall with a time of 4:31.16. Barber ran in the 400 meter finals finishing sixth overall clocking a time of 1:00.21. This was followed by Montville’s second 60 meter race. In the 60 meter finals, he finished in third place with a time of 7.06 seconds.
McDonough raced in her 800 meter final finishing in second place overall with a time of 2:19.62 earning Plattsburgh eight points. Montville also ran in the 200 meter finals with a time of 22.75 seconds and ended in sixth place and received three points. The final individual event of the SUNYAC championships was the 3,00 meter race. Smith finished her race in 12th place with a time of 11:11.33.
The final track event of the competition was the 4×400 meter relay. The women’s team, which consisted of Barber, Landman, McDonough, and Morgan Thompson, ended with a time of 4:16.87 earning the team fourth place. The men’s team composed of Nicholas Anderson, Sochia, Cameron Giuliano, and Monnat finished seventh overall with a final time of 3:40.27.
Even though track and field is considered an individual sport, the team’s support is still extremely important in helping the athletes compete to the best of their abilities. Schaffer said, “When I look down the runway, I see them and I know their routing for me and even if I do bad, they’re still going to support me no matter what.”
Four athletes from both the mens and womens track and field teams qualified for the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference championship including Montville, Mcdonough, Schaffer, and Barber. Monville said, “Going into regionals, I expect a lot of good competition, a lot of good energy and that everyone there is there for a reason.”
For the rest of the team who are not attending regionals, they are looking forward to the upcoming spring season of outdoor track. “We are looking to get a few athletes returning from injuries to be back with us,” head coach Krug said, “maintaining the women’s placing outdoors and for the men, to improve their team placing from indoor SUNYACs and getting a few more athletes qualified for SUNYACs, a few athletes qualified for the regional championship and hoping to get some national championship presence.”
