ITHACA, N.Y. - Senior Melique Garcia (Watervliet) established himself at or near the top of the Division III national charts in two events as Cortland competed at the Cornell University Upstate Challenge. Cortland was one of only two Div. III teams in an otherwise Div. I field at the 10-team meet.

Garcia finished second out of 55 in the 200-meter dash in 22.17 seconds, currently the best time nationally in Div. III. He was also third of 38 in the 60-meter dash in 6.86 seconds, which ranks second in the country.

Garcia's performances were two of six by the Red Dragons that met ECAC standards. Junior Joe Shinn (New Rochelle) finished fourth of 22 in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.24 seconds and presently ranks sixth nationally in that event. Junior Jerel Williams (East Islip) placed sixth of 32 in the 400 meters (50.49), sophomore Nick Vachon (Endwell/Maine-Endwell) was ninth in the high jump (1.94 meters - 6' 4.25"), and junior Marcus Alston (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) finished 12th in the 60-meter dash (7.10).

Sophomore Connor Christopherson (Morrisonville/Saranac) broke his own school record in the heptathlon. He finished third with 4,675 points, more than 300 points better than his previous school record set last season. Christopherson currently ranks sixth nationally in Div. III in the event and is tied for second in the ECAC rankings. The top 12 entered scores will compete in the heptathlon at the ECAC meet.

Junior Jimmy Moyer (Oneida) finished 10th of 21 in the long jump with a distance of 6.47 meters (21' 2.75"). Senior Jarred Iacovelli (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) placed 11th of 22 in the 1,000 meters (2:43.57) and 16th of 35 in the mile (4:28.82), with sophomore Mitch Ryan (Plattsburgh/Seton Catholic) 17th in the mile (4:31.78).

Four Red Dragons, in addition to Garcia, placed in the top half of the field in the 200-meter dash. Williams was 13th (23.18), junior Keewan Rondinello (Liverpool) finished 14th (23.21), Alston placed 16th (23.28) and junior Romain Saint Germain (Westbury) tied for 18th (23.34). Williams was joined in the top half of the 400-meter finishers by freshman Richard Taylor (Westbury) in 14th place (52.63) and freshman Corey Cooper (Edgemont) in 15th place (52.73).

Cortland will send competitors to both the Cornell Kane Invitational and the Ithaca Bomber Invitational and Multi next weekend.

Complete Results (PDF)