Moody, Zimmerman Earn National Qualifying Marks
CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Lakers track and field teams competed in the Upstate Alternative Invite at SUNY Cortland today, April 16th. For a second-straight week, the Lakers battled the elements, with cold conditions and steady rain throughout the meet.
The Lakers competed with a pool of teams consisting of other Junior Colleges, all the way up to the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. Participant schools included: SUNY ESF, Hudson Valley Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Herkimer College, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Broome, St. Lawrence, Ithaca, Hartwick, Cortland, Oneonta, Albany, and Syracuse University
In their 3rd meet of the season and in a crowded playing field, the Lakers backed up their national rankings with some stellar performances on the day.
Women
Freshman Ericka Moody earned herself a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region III championships in the 100m, completing the race in 13.69 good for a 6th place inish. Moody's mark will not only earn her a spot in regionals, but also a trip to the NJCAA Division III National Championship
Chyra Patterson would compete in the 100m alongside Moody and teammate Deja Glover, earning a time of 15.93, while Glover finished with a time of 17.36. Alongside Glover, Patterson would compete in the 200m meters, finishing at 34.43, while Glover topped out at 38.57 respectively. Patterson would join Moody in the long jump, with a mark of 3.83m, just shy of Moody's 3.99m.
Other finishers for the Lakers included Elizabeth Rose, who finished 8th in the high jump with a mark of 1.35m
Moody would round out the day for the Lakers women's track and field team earning a spot in the NJCAA Region III championships in the long jump and 200m. Moody would earn a mark of 3.99m in the long jump, as well as a 29.21 finish in the 200m.
Men
John Zimmerman met the national standard for the NJCAA Division III national championships, improving his mark from the previous week by almost 15 seconds, with a time of 16:46.82. Teammate Kyle Green would earn a qualifying mark for the NJCAA Region III tournament, completing the 1500m in 4:42.04. Giovanni Ventura would join Green in the event, finishing in 16th place with a time of 4:29.53.
On the same day, green would compete in the 800m alongside teammate Giovanni Ventura with Ventura finishing ahead in 13th place with a time of 2:11.82, and Green coming in at 2:20.09 with a 21st place finish.
A 4x100 team consisting of Hunter Zangerle, Tyqwan Coles, Memphis Lohnes, and Cameron Rynders placed 3rd, with a final time of 46.52. Lohnes would compete in the pole vault, coming in with a mark of 3.40m, tying Jack Hulsey of St. Lawrence for a 9th place finish. Teammates Cameron Rynders and Tyqwan Coles both would compete in the triple jump as well, with Rynders finishing 4th with a mark of 12.25 and Coles coming just behind with a 5th place finish at 12.22.
Rynders, Austin Franklin, and Myisah Williams would all compete in the 100m, with Rynders finishing 17th at 11.99, Franklin finishing 19th at 12.89, and Williams coming in at 23rd with a time of 13.57. Franklin would compete in the 200m, placing 11th with a time of 26.53 to round out his day.
Daniel DiSalvo would start in the 400m with a time of 58.79, along with a 4th place finish in the 400m hurdle with a time of 1:06.58. Last week's NJCAA Region III Athlete of the Week, Dillian Hernandez would round out the day for the Lakers men's track and field team, coming in 3rd with a mark of 37.62m in the javelin throw.
Now, the Lakers will await a trip to St. John Fisher College for the Cardinal Classic Invitational next weekend, April 23rd at 9:30 AM, followed by a consecutive trip to Rochester on April 30th for the University of Rochester Invitational.