COBLESKILL MEN’S TRACK RUNS AT 2008 CAPITAL DISTRICT CLASSIC

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s outdoor track & field team continued their impressive campaign on Saturday at the 2008 Capital District Classic posting 13 NJCAA National Championship Qualifying Standard meeting performances. The Fighting Tigers are currently ranked third in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll.

On the track, Cobleskill continued to demonstrate depth and balance highlighted by a pair of individual event wins as freshman Leon Thompson, Manhattan, NY, Fredrick Douglas Academy, took the 200 Meters in a national qualifying time of 22.81 seconds and freshman Joseph Appah, Manhattan, NY, Walton High School, won the 400 Meters meeting the national standard with a time of 50.51 seconds. The Fighting Tiger 4 X 100 Meter Relay of: Leon Thompson, senior David Suarez, Hauppauge, NY, Hauppauge High School, freshman Brad Boice, Cambridge, NY, Cambridge High School, and senior Carlton Wildman, South Huntington, NY, John Glenn High School, took the event by meeting the national standard in a time of 43.64 seconds.

Cobleskill also received national qualifying meeting performance on the track from: senior multi-event athlete Chris Torres, Middletown, NY, Minisink Valley High School, in the 400 Meter Hurdles placing fourth with a time of 59.04 seconds followed by sprinter Brad Boice who placed fifth overall in a time of 59.86 seconds, senior mid-distance runner Eric Graber, Troy, NY, Lansingburgh High School, who finished fourth in the 800 Meters with a time of 2:01.44 and from freshman mid-distance runner Nick O’Neil, Ballston Spa, NY, Ballston Spa High School, who placed eleventh at 1500 Meters with a time of 4:15.80.

In the field events, freshman jumper/multi-event performer Aldin Gomez, Westbury, NY, Westbury High School, met the national mark in the Triple Jump finishing second with an effort of 42’8 ¾” and finishing third in the Long Jump with a leap of 20’10”. Senior thrower Joe Valentin, Swan Lake, NY, Liberty High School, also met the national mark twice placing seventh in the Discus with a make of 123’11” and taking eight place in the Hammer Throw with a toss of 130’8”.

In the relays: the Cobleskill 4 X 800 Meter squad of Eric Graber, Nick O’Neil, freshman Joe Singer, Onteora, NY, Onteora High School, and freshman Kevin Wippel, Pine Bush, NY, Pine Bush High School, met the national standard placing second with a time of 8:47.33 and the 4 X 400 Meter team of Brad Boice, senior Manesky Magloire, Brooklyn, NY, Clara Barton High School, freshman David St. Fleur, Westbury, NY, Westbury High School, and senior Dan Ballou, Kingston, NY, Kingston High School. 

Cobleskill will next be in action at the 2008 NJCAA Region III Division III Championships hosted by Alfred State College in Alfred, NY, on Friday May 2nd and Saturday May 3rd.