FIGHTING TIGER OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD TEAMS STILL IN HUNT FOR NJCAA NATIONAL TITLES

After the first two days of the 2008 NJCAA Division III National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers are still in the hunt for both the men’s and women’s national titles. The Fighting Tiger men after 10 scored events have posted a team total of 54 points and trail only Harper Community College from Palatine, NY, by 18 points, entering the final day of competition. The women’s team is currently in fourth place overall with a total of 31 points. The national meet is being hosted this year by SUNY Delhi in Delhi, NY.

The highlight for Friday afternoon for the Fighting Tiger men came in the Decathlon where freshman Aldin Gomez, Westbury, NY, Westbury High School, placed second overall with a total of 5196 points to earn Second Team NJCAA All-American honors. Gomez also placed third in the Triple Jump for the Orange & Black with a mark of 13.49 meters.

Cobleskill received additional scoring performances in the Decathlon from senior Chris Torres, Middletown, NY, Minisink Valley High School, who finished sixth with 4868 points and from freshman Kameron Whittmeyer, Yorkshire, NY, Pioneer High School, who placed seventh with 4718 points.

On the women’s side of the meet, senior distance runner April Ackermann, South Huntington, NY, Sullivan West High School, took fourth place in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase with finishing in a time of 12:24.27 while freshman Alex Devine, Cherry Valley, NY, Berlin High School, placed eighth with in a time of 13:14.42. The Fighting Tigers also received a scoring effort from senior multi-event athlete Jennifer Villanova, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa High School, who placed fifth in the Triple Jump with a leap of 9.68 meters.

The meet’s final day of competition, Saturday May 10th, will begin at 10:00 AM at the SUNY Delhi Track & Field Facility in Delhi, NY.