ITHACA, N.Y. and BOSTON, MASS. – Cortland recorded a combined eight ECAC qualifying performances as the Red Dragons sent competitors to both the Boston University Valentine Invitational and the Cornell University Kane Invitational.

In Boston, freshman Alexis Fairbanks (Apalachin/Owego Free Academy) finished 59th out of 165 runners in the 800 metes with an ECAC time of 2:21.04. Junior Erin Keaveney (West Hempstead/Kellenberg Memorial) was 43rd out of 95 entrants in the 3,000 meters with an ECAC time of 10:36.39. Two Cortland runners hit ECAC marks in the 5,000-meter run – sophomore Alyson Dalton (Sherrll/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) was 28th in 18:08.14 and junior Kristin Vespa (Ossining) placed 40th in 18:40.85.

Cortland also qualified for the ECACs in the 4x400-meter relay as sophomore Veronica Montrose (Clintondale/Highland), senior Mallory Baker (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), freshman Nicole Battaglia (East Meadow) and freshman Lex Grable (Pine Bush) finished 27th in 4:09.48.

Other top performers but non-ECAC qualifiers at Boston included freshman Jordyn Naylon (Fairport) in the mile (62nd, 5:20.36), Baker in the 400 meters (64th, 1:01.71) and Montrose in the 200-meter dash (84th, 27.20). There were more than 140 entries in each of those events.

At Cornell, freshman Katie Darling (Delhi/Delaware Academy) placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with an ECAC-qualifying time of 9.55 seconds and freshman Christi Nassauer (Mount Sinai) was sixth in the pole vault at 3.20 meters (10' 6”), also an ECAC standard.

Freshman Nikki Schafer (Troy/Columbia) was Cortland's top finisher in the pentathlon at Cornell with a sixth-place score of 2,900 points. Her 60-meter hurdle time of 9.59 seconds during the pentathlon is an ECAC qualifier for the 55-meter hurdles.

Freshman Amber Stephens (Stony Point/North Rockland) barely missed qualifying for the ECAC's in the triple jump with her eighth-place distance of 10.53 meters (34' 6.75”). The standard in the event is 10.75 meters.

Cornell Kane Invitational Results (men and women)

Boston University Valentine Invitational Results (women)