COBLESKILL TRACK & FIELD COMPETES AT ONEONTA INVITATIONAL

With weather conditions forcing them to change plans at the last minute the SUNY Cobleskill men and women’s cross country team headed to Oneonta, NY on Saturday for the 2005 Oneonta State Invitational hosted by SUNY Oneonta. Cobleskill had originally been scheduled to attend the Lafayette University Invitational in Easton, PA until the treat of rain forced the meet’s rescheduling until Sunday. The Fighting Tiger men posted a team score of 40.50 points to finish third in a field of nine teams while the Cobleskill women placed sixth in a field of eight teams with a score of 27 points.

The Fighting Tiger throwers led the way on the men’s side as freshman Jon Slegona, Ellenville, NY, Ellenville High School, took second place in the Hammer Throw meeting the NJCAA national qualifying standard with a toss of 44.46 meters. Freshman Jim Fitzpatrick, Watertown, CT, Watertown High School, also met the national qualifying standard in the event with a toss of 34.68 meters to place fourth overall. The duo also scored in the Shot Put with Fitzpatrick placing third, 10.66 meters, and Slegona placing fourth, 10.08 meters, respectively. Cobleskill also excelled in the Javelin with freshman Ryan Machback, Stratford, CT, Notre Dame High School, finishing second with a toss of 47.81 meters and freshman Jon Zabron, Eden, NY, Eden High School, placing third with a mark of 46.87 meters. Both Machback and Zabron met the national qualifying standards with their performances.

On the women’s side senior NJCAA All-American Leslie Martin, Hudson Falls, NY, Hudson Falls High School, continued to impress winning the Triple Jump with an effort of 9.97 meters, placing second in the High Jump with a 1.47 effort and finishing third in the 400 Meter Hurdles in a time of 1:09.6 meeting the national qualifying standards in each event.

Fighting Tiger distance runner senior Emily Bertier, Union Bridge, MD, Francis Scott Key High School, met the national qualifying mark in the 1500 Meters placing seventh in a time of 5:14.80. Bertier has now met the national qualifying standards in the: 1500 Meters, the 3000 Meter Steeplechase, the 5000 Meters and the 10,000 Meters.

Cobleskill will next travel to Ithaca, NY on Tuesday April 26th for the Ithaca College Meet before making their way to Utica, NY on Saturday April 30th to compete in the Mountain Valley Conference Championships hosted by Mohawk Valley Community College beginning at 10:00 AM.