The Plattsburgh State track and field team traveled to Brockport last weekend to compete in the SUNYAC Indoor Championships and performed well with many Cardinals receiving ECAC qualifying marks.
Thus far in the season, the Cards have united, creating a bond that helps one another thrive off the team’s positive energy as a whole. Outcomes have been positive on both men’s and women’s teams as they continue to pick up personal records throughout the season.
When PSUC competed last weekend, there were some nervous moments leading up to competition, but once things got started, athletes took off running as fast as they possibly could, without a doubt in their mind.
“I heard the gun go off, and all my nervous energy left my mind racing through my body and carried speed,” senior distance runner Megan Schweizer, who finished eighth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:26.00, said.
Junior mid-distance runner Stephanie Boucher finished third in the 800-meter run posting an ECAC qualifying time of 2:16.36.
“Standing on top of the podium after winning made me feel a sense of relief,” Boucher said. “All the hard work and dedication I’ve been putting in is all worth this very moment.”
Senior Emma Deshaies finished with an ECAC qualifying time in the 5,000-meter run, coming in seventh place with a time of 18:01.1. With this in mind, Deshaies uses a strategy in order to be successful.
“I mentally prepare by not over analyzing what’s about to happen, trusting that all the training that lead me to this day will help me do well,” Deshaies said.
She also mentioned confidence at a meet filled with over achieving athletes is important, realizing the outcome of this meet is a bonus for all the work done throughout the season.
Senior Luke Potash and juniors Kyle Jones and Ethan Vinson flourished at the conference championship meet.
Potash posted a time of 22.70 in the 200-meter dash preliminary heat, advancing him to Saturday’s final, where he took fifth place with an ECAC qualifying time of 22.76.
Jones also qualified for an ECAC mark in the 400-meter dash. Jones’ second-place time of 49.72 was a new indoor personal best.
Vinson hit the ECAC qualifying mark at the conference meet in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.20, advancing him to the finals, where he came in fourth place with a time of 1:58.33.
The Cards will head to Staten Island this weekend to compete at the ECAC Indoor Championships, and they are confident and excited moving forward.
“I’m proud of my team and how we’re progressing,” Boucher said. “It’s extremely exciting to watch everyone get personal records. I’m looking forward to this weekend and having more personal records.”
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