NEW YORK, NY - A small group of men’s and women’s track and field athletes travelled to the NYC Qualifying Challenge which was held at Icahn Stadium. While there, some athletes had outstanding individual performances and set new personal records.
The top performance among the Tigers was accomplished by junior
Brian Walker (Brockport, NY/Brockport). Walker had an outstanding performance in the hammer throw, setting a personal record. Walker was fifth in the event with a toss of 50.81 meters. Not only was this a career record, Walker was just 5 centimeters away from breaking the school record which was set back in 1974. Walker has one more chance to break that record during the ECAC Championship Meet.
For the men, five athletes set college career bests in their events. These athletes include freshmen
Chris Webb (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township),
Adam Irr (Newfane, NY/Newfane),
Cameron Lee (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Sutherland), and Shawheen Farzad as well as upperclassman
Casey Doty (Holley, NY/Holley). Webb ran a new best of 11.26 seconds in the 100-meter dash, while Lee ran a 15.16 in the 110-meter hurdles. Lee finished eighth overall in the event. Irr broke the two minute mark in the 800-meter run for the first time in his college career as he crossed the line in a time of 1:59.76. Farzad and Doty were fifth and eighth, respectively, in the discus throw. Farzad threw the instrument 40.29 meters while Doty’s distance was marked at 36.50 meters. Senior
Mike Hardbarger (Parkersburg, WV/Ritchie County) had a season best in the 1,500 meter race, finishing tenth with a time of 4:04.36.
Although they did not set personal records, junior
Matt Marion (Lima, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) and sophomore
Mike Kurvach (Victor, NY/Victor) both placed exceptionally well in their events. Marion was third overall in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54.46 seconds. Kurvach was fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, crossing the line in 9:44.22.
Sophomore Jennifer Adams was the top female performer as she set her career best in the long jump. Adams was fourth with a jump of 5.79 meters. This distance improves upon her NCAA provisional jump and moves her to the eighth place position in the Division III rankings.
Along with Adams, senior
Nicole Varble (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) and freshman Belina Hooper set season best records in their individual events. Varble ran a 2:21.07 in the 800-meter run to achieve this accomplishment. Her time also placed her ninth overall among the competition. Hooper was sixth in the javelin throw with a final distance of 33.29 meters.
Freshman
Courtney Saunders (Canyon Country, CA/Canyon) finished highly among the competition in the shot put. Saunders heaved the shot 10.83 meters to secure her the fourth place position.
For those who have qualified for the ECAC Championship Meet, the condensed squad will travel to the meet which will be held in Springfield, Mass. The meet begins Thursday May 13 and will finish on Friday May 14.