Ortiz Secures Trifecta with Three NJCAA Region III Championships
TROY, N.Y. - The Finger Lakes Community College track and field team traveled to Hudson Valley Community College Saturday afternoon to compete in the NJCAA Region III Championships. The Lakers, who have put together several exceptional performances this season, continued their star-studded run as the women's team finished in third place, followed by a fifth place finish for the men's team.
Freshman Trinity Ortiz was the standout performer, dominating her events by securing first place in the 100m dash with a time of 12.96, the high jump at 1.47m, and the long jump at 5.25m. The victories earned Ortiz First Team All-Region honors as she put no doubt in earning her spot at the NJCAA Division III National Championships. Teammate Juliette Ventura also excelled, finishing second in the heptathlon with 2827 points, just short of the first place. Ventura earned Second Team All-Region honors with her finish, additionally, she took third place in the high jump with a leap of 1.39m and fourth in the javelin throw with a mark of 24.69m.
Sophomore Morgan Cheney took a third place finish in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 14:13.90 and sixth in the 800m with a time of 3:08.56. Cheney would earn Third Team All-Region honors for her finish in the 3000m steeplechase. Freshman Grace Holmes demonstrated her skill in the field, securing second place in the pole vault by clearing 2.44m, earning Second Team All-Region honors, and placing fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 8.69m. Classmate Phallon Rivera contributed solid throws, placing fifth in the discus with 21.07m and seventh in the shot put at 8.38m.
On the men's side, freshman Zachary Lester captured the 10000m run title at SUNY Cortland the week prior. He also earned third in the 1500m, earning Third Team All-Region, with a time of 54.86 and ninth in the 800m at 2:29.10. Classmate Terreque Davis was consistent in his performance, earning third place in both the 110m hurdles, clocking 16.95, and the high jump with a clearance of 1.83m, making him a Third Team All-Region selection. Freshman Jason Hunt-McLean earned a notable performance with a second place finish in the discus with a throw at 34.30m and the javelin throw at 37.31m, the latter of which qualified him for the National Championships next weekend. He concluded his day with a seventh place finish in the shot put with a throw of 9.65m.
Contributions from Justin Luna and Aren Weigert also added to the team's success, Luna finished seventh in the 110m hurdles at 20.93, and Weigert took sixth in the pole vault with a clearance of 2.59m. With a strong overall performance this season, the Lakers will send four student-athletes from the women's side and three from the men's side to the NJCAA Division III National Championships at Mohawk Valley Community College next week. The National Championships will kick off on Thursday, May 9th, and conclude on Saturday, May 11th. The Lakers will look to carry their impressive performances over to the big stage with a chance at a National Championship on the line.