FIGHTING TIGER MEN FINISH 6TH AT NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s track & field program capped off their season in style posting a team score of 66.5 points to place sixth in a field of 19 teams at the 2004 NJCAA Division III National Championships hosted by Delhi Tech in Delhi, NY.

Freshman distance runner Kane Seamon, Richfield Springs, NY, Richfield Springs High School, scored an upset victory to capture the National Championship at 10,000 Meters posting a time of 34:13.69. Seamon also placed fifth in the 5000 Meters with a time of 16:14.98 and sixth in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase with a time of 10:12.62. The talented freshman led all Fighting Tiger individual scorers with 17 points in the meet.

The Fighting Tiger middle distance/distance corps followed Seamon’s lead as freshman Jamie Julia, Amsterdam, NY, Amsterdam High School, placed third in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase with a time of 10:02.01 and fourth in the 5000 Meters with a mark of 16:14.27. Freshman Johnny Baez, Nyack, NY, Nyack High School, was also a multiple placer for Cobleskill finishing third in the 800 Meters 1:59.27 and fourth in the 1500 Meters 4:05.00. Senior Mike Russ, Windsor, NY, Windsor High School, was sixth in the 10,000 Meters with a time of 36:19.95 while fellow senior Greg Ernst, Gloversville, NY, Gloversville High School, was seventh in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase in 10:19.23. Additionally the Cobleskill 4 X 800 Meter Relay of freshman Chris Scotti, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa High School, Jamie Julia, Greg Ernst and Johnny Baez placed fifth overall with a time of 8:20.38.

The Fighting Tigers also received an outstanding individual effort from senior Jon Valovic, Johnstown, NY, Johnstown High School, who placed third in the Decathlon with a score of 4876 points. Cobleskill also received individual scoring performances from freshman Robert Keizer, Great Neck, NY, Manhasset High School, who was fourth in the Long Jump, 6.70 meters, and from freshman hurdler Asuerus Thompson, Newburgh, NY, Newburgh Free Academy, who placed fourth in the 400 Meter Hurdles in 57.72 seconds. The 4 X 100 Meter Relay of freshman Domingo Cesar, New York, NY, Landmark High School, freshman Verdine Conner, Anguila, British West Indies, freshman Rory Ingraham, Berlin, NY, Berlin High School, and Robert Keizer placed eighth overall with a time of 45.9 seconds.

Cobleskill Head Coach Brad Fichthorn had a unique perspective on the meet and the Fighting Tigers overall showing.

“Our goal was to finish in the top five and we did not accomplish that although we did improve on last year’s eighth place finish. We are very proud of Kane Seamon who put the team on his shoulders and carried us. Many people will talk about him becoming a national champion in the 10,000 Meters but I’m more impressed by his willingness to sacrifice his individual goals to help us score points. Looking toward the future, we have 12 returning freshmen and are very excited about next season.”