FIGHTING TIGER TRACK & FIELD EYES SUCCESSFUL INDOOR CAMPAIGN

With the start of the 2007-08 Indoor Track & Field season just around the corner, SUNY Cobleskill Head Track & Field Coach Brad Fichthorn enters his sixth season ready for a successful campaign based on the return of a number of talented veterans and a solid recruiting class. Cobleskill is coming off a 2006-07 indoor season which saw the women’s team place second and the men’s team place third at the NJCAA Region III Championships and an outdoor campaign which saw the women place second at the 2007 NJCAA Division III National Championships while the men finished tenth overall.

“It’s good to finally get the season going and this year I think that we potentially have a number of athletes who have the potential to qualify for the indoor nationals and an excellent schedule that should allow us to pursue this in earnest,” said Fichthorn.

The Fighting Tiger men will be led by a trio of talented returnees as senior mid-distance ace Eric Graber, Troy, NY, Lansingburgh High School, the defending NJCAA Region III Champion in both the indoor and outdoor 800 Meters returns joined by senior sprinter David Suarez, Hauppauge, NY, Hauppauge High School, who holds the program’s indoor record in the 55 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash and senior sprinter Carlton Wildman, Huntington, NY, John Glen High School, who holds the program’s indoor record at 400 Meters.

Among the newcomers freshman pole vaulter/multi-event performer Patrick Krug, Averill Park, NY, Averill Park High School, freshman sprinter Brad Boice, Cambridge, NY, Cambridge High School, and freshman sprinter/jumper Tomas Velasquez, Catskill, NY, Catskill High School, should have immediate impact. Cobleskill should also receive contributions from mid-distance runners’ freshman Nick O’Neal, Ballston Spa, NY, Ballston Spa High School, and freshman Richard Garnett, Yonkers, NY, Roosevelt High School and from freshman distance runner Kevin Wippel, Pine Bush, NY, Pine Bush High School.

Leading the Fighting Tiger women will be senior multi-event performer Jen Villanova, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa High School, a four-time NJCAA All-American during the outdoor season and the 2007 NJCAA Outdoor National Champion in the Long Jump. Villanova will be joined this season on the roster by her sister freshman pole vaulter/mid distance runner Angela Villanova, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa High School, and returning senior thrower/multi-event performer Kayla Evers, Oneonta, NY, Lighthouse Academy.

Among the other Cobleskill newcomers freshman sprinter Tamara Jenkins, Queens, NY, Jamaica High School, freshman mid-distance runner Meghan LaPoint, Schenectady, NY, Colonie High School, and freshman distance runner Alex Devine, Cherry Plains, NY, Berlin High School, should have an immediate impact.

Cobleskill will open the season on Saturday December 1st when they travel to Middletown, CT for the Wesleyan College Invitational beginning at 10:00 AM.