FIGHTING TIGER TRACK & FIELD EXCELS AT ITHACA OPEN INVITATIONAL

The SUNY Cobleskill track & field program continued their impressive 2007 season making a strong showing at the Ithaca Open Invitational hosted by Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY on Tuesday. Fighting Tiger athletes met the NJCAA Division III National Qualifying Standards in twelve separate events at the invitational.

Freshman distance runner April Ackermann, South Huntington, NY, Sullivan West High School, provided continued her impressive campaign by winning the 3000 Meter Steeplechase in a national qualifying time of 12:33.19.The Fighting Tigers also qualified the 4 X 100 Meter Relay as the team of freshman Regina Morgan, Brooklyn, NY, Prospect Heights High School, freshman Jennifer Villanova, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa High School, senior Erinn O’Rourke, South Glens Falls, NY, South Glens Falls High School, and senior Teresa Cox, Bellport, NY, Bellport High School, placed third in the event with a time of 54.08.

Individually: Regina Morgan met the nationally qualifying standard in the 400 Meters placing fifth with a time of 1:05.02, Teresa Cox was a national qualifier in the 400 Meter Hurdles placing fifth in 1:17.88 and Jennifer Villanova hit the national standard in the Long Jump with a mark 4.68 meters. Senior thrower Beth Conte, Herkimer, NY, Herkimer High School, will also be heading to the NJCAA Nationals in the Hammer Throw having placed fifth overall with a throw of 31.22 meters.

Freshman Kevin Amilcar, White Plains, NY, White Plains High School, was exceptional during the afternoon winning the Long Jump hitting the national standard in the event with a mark of 6.23 meters while also winning the High Jump with a cleared height of 1.72 meters. The Fighting Tigers also posted a victory in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase as senior NJCAA All-American Creig Levens, Berlin, NY, Berlin High School, hit the national qualifying mark winning the event in a time of 10:36.84. Senior thrower Kyle Robinson, Canastota, NY, Canastota High School, also posted an outstanding meet for Cobleskill placing fourth in the Hammer Throw with a mark of 41.06 meters and finishing fifth in the Discus with a toss of 38.23 meters to meet national qualifying marks in each event.

In the relay events the Fighting Tigers qualified for the NJCAA Nationals in the 4 X 100 Meter Relay as the team of Kevin Amilcar, senior Jon Bates, Bronx, NY, Walton High School, senior Dustin Slingerland, Scotia, NY, Scotia-Glenville High School, and freshman Chris Torres, Minisink, NY, Minisink Valley High School, placed second with a time of 45.87. Cobleskill also qualified in the 4 X 400 Meter Relay as the team of Jon Bates, Chris Torres, freshman Eric Graber, Troy, NY, Lansingburgh High School, and senior Hugh Campbell, Bronx, NY, Evander Childs High School, posted a second place finish in a time of 3:33.14.

The Fighting Tigers will next compete at the 2007 Mountain Valley Conference Championships hosted by Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY on Saturday April 28th at 9:00 AM.