FIGHTING TIGER WOMEN’S TRACK RANKED #1 IN NJCAA NATIONAL POLL, MEN HOLD #2 POSITION IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

After the opening two invitationals of the 2008 outdoor track & field campaign, SUNY Cobleskill is once again among the nation’s elite junior college programs with the Fighting Tiger women holding the number one ranking in the current NJCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Poll while the Cobleskill men occupy the number two position in the association’s men’s national poll.

“I just hope that we can stay healthy and that someone can explain to me what we have to do to win,” joked Fighting Tiger Head Coach Brad Fichthorn. “I think that we’re getting into shape and as the weather continues to warm up that our times keep coming down.”

Coming off their 2008 NJCAA Region III Indoor Championship the Fighting Tiger women have posted 13 individual and two relay NJCAA National Championship Standard meeting performances to date. Senior NJCAA All-American distance runner April Ackerman, South Huntington, NY, Sullivan West High School, has already met the national qualifying marks in the: 10,000 Meters, the 3000 Meter Steeplechase and the 800 Meters while senior NJCAA All-American multi-event performer Jennifer Villanova, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa High School, has met the national qualifying marks in the Long Jump and the Triple Jump.

Cobleskill has also received multiple qualifying national efforts from freshman distance runner Alex Devine, Cherry Plains, NY, Berlin High School, in the 10,000 Meters and the 3000 Meter Steeplechase and from freshman distance runner Meghan Newton, Torrington, CT, Wamogo High School, in both the 10,000 Meters and the 5000 Meters. Freshman sprinter/mid-distance performer Tamarra Jenkins, Queens, NY, Jamaica High School, is also a multiple national qualifier meeting the national marks in the 200 Meters and the 400 Meters.

The Fighting Tigers have also qualified for the NJCAA Nationals in the 4 X 400 Meter Relay and the 4 X 800 Meter Relay.

On the men’s side the Orange & Black have posted 18 individual national qualifying performances to go with one relay qualifying effort. The Fighting Tigers have carried over the momentum from the indoor season where they finished second at the 2008 Region III Championships and twenty-eighth at the 2008 NJCAA National Championships.

Several Cobleskill men’s team members have already posted multiple national qualifying efforts through the early part of the season led by freshman jumper Aldin Gomez, Westbury, NY, Westbury High School, who has met the national qualifying marks in the Long Jump and the Triple Jump.

Freshman sprinter Leon Thompson, Manhattan, NY, Fredrick Douglas Academy, has met the national standards in the 100 Meters and the 200 Meters as has freshman jumper Jon Figueroa, North Branch, NY, Sullivan West High School, a multiple national qualifier in both the 110 Meter Hurdles and the 400 Meter Hurdles. Freshman distance runner Kevin Wippel, Pine Bush, NY, Pine Bush High School, is also a multiple national qualifier at 10,000 Meters and in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase for the Orange & Black.

The Fighting Tigers have also qualified their 4 X 800 Meter Relay to the national championships.

Cobleskill will next be in action on Saturday April 12th when they travel to Middletown, CT for the 2008 Wesleyan College Invitational hosted by Wesleyan College beginning at 10:00 AM.