FIGHTING TIGER WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD COMPETE AT SWANSON INVY

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s outdoor track & field team continued to make their presence felt in the nation’s junior college ranks at the 2006 J. Elmer Swanson Invitational hosted by Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. The Fighting Tigers continued their drive towards the NJCAA National Championships with a number of exceptional performances in the meet.

Freshman sprinter Erinn O’Rourke, South Glens Falls, NY, South Glens Falls High School, led the Cobleskill assault meeting the national qualifying standards in the 100 Meter Dash placing sixth overall in a time of 13.57 seconds and the 200 Meter Dash finishing sixth in a time of 28.03 seconds. O’Rourke then teamed with senior Rachael Prehna, Stamford, NY, Stamford High School, freshman Theresa Cox, Bellport, NY, Bellport High School, and freshman Amanda Aker, Nelliston, NY, Nelliston High School, to finish fifth in the 1600 Meter Relay win a national qualifying time of 4:31.58.

Amanda Aker also continued her individual march towards the national meet lowering her national seed time in the 100 Meter Hurdles to 17.59 seconds to place seventh overall then placed third in the 400 Meter Hurdles meeting the national standard in a time of 1:13.37 seconds. Theresa Cox also improved her national seed time in the 400 Meters running a personal best of 1:04.38 to finish seventh in the field. Senior Nichole Frank, Gouverneur, NY, Gouverneur High School, met the national qualifying mark in the Javelin Throw with a toss of 26.32 meters placing twelfth in the field while senior thrower Ashley Coles, Albany, NY, Albany High School, placed ninth in the Discuss qualifying for the NJCAA Nationals with a mark of 27.95 meters.

The Fighting Tigers showing was something that left Head Coach Brad Fichthorn upbeat and positive. “We had a great meet today with twenty performances where we showed significant improvement along with six personal bests so I am extremely pleased with the way we’re progressing and expect big things from our program down the stretch.”

Cobleskill will next travel to Delhi Tech on Tuesday April 18th for a mini-qualifying meet beginning at 3:00 PM before venturing down Interstate 88 on Saturday April 20th for the SUNY Oneonta Invitational in Oneonta, NY.

TIGER NOTES: Former Fighting Tiger Jamie Julia-Perez, Amsterdam, NY, currently running for NCAA Division II member Adelphi University recently won the 3000 Meter Steeplechase Championship at the Disney Relays hosted by Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL in a time of 9:50.31 and place second in the 10,000 Meters at the Monmouth University Invitational in West Long Branch, NJ in a time of 32:20.80.