COBLESKILL MEN’S TRACK & FIELD OPENS SEASON AT DICK SHEA INVY

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s track & field team made an powerful statement to open the outdoor season posting 10 NJCAA Division III National Qualifying Standard meeting efforts at the 2008 Dick Shea Invitational hosted by the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday.

Freshman sprinter Brad Boice, Cambridge, NY, Cambridge High School, led the Fighting Tiger assault winning the 400 Meter Dash garnering the highest finish of any junior college athlete competing at invitational. Boice met the NJCAA Division III National Qualifying Standard in the event with a time of 51.87 seconds. Fellow freshman sprinter Leon Thompson, Manhattan, NY, Fredrick Douglas Academy, was also impressive placing second in the 200 Meters with a national qualifying time of 22.83 seconds and finishing fourth in the 100 Meters also in a national qualifying time of 11.11 seconds.

The Cobleskill jumping corps was extremely active in the meet with three team members meeting the national qualifying mark in the Long Jump led by freshman Kevin Amilcar, White Plains, NY, White Plains High School, who placed third overall with an effort of 6.70 meters. Also meeting the national qualifying mark in the Long Jump were freshman Aldin Gomez, Westbury, NY, Westbury High School, who finished eighth with a mark of 6.33 meters and freshman Tomas Velasquez, Catskill, NY, Catskill High School, who placed ninth with a mark of 6.32 meters. Aldin Gomez also met the qualifying standard in the Triple Jump by placing second in the meet with a mark of 13.77 meters.

Senior mid-distance runner Eric Graber, Troy, NY, Lansingburgh High School, met the national standard in the 800 Meters placing sixth in a time of 2:04.09 while freshman distance runner Kevin Wippel, Pine Bush, NY, Pine Bush High School, placed seventh in the 10,000 Meters meeting the national qualifying standard with a time of 34:42.86. Senior thrower Joe Valentine, Swan Lake, NY, Liberty High School, also met a national qualifying mark in the Hammer Throw with a toss of 41.65 meters to place seventh overall in the event.

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Saturday April 5th when the program travels to Allentown, PA to compete at the 2008 Muhlenberg College Invitational hosted by Muhlenberg College beginning at 10:00 AM.