ALBANY, N.Y. – Joe Shinn (New Rochelle) and Melique Garcia (Watervliet) improved on their national rankings and Cortland posted seven ECAC-qualifying performances at the University at Albany Purple & Gold Last Chance Meet.

The Red Dragons recently added the meet to their schedule due to weather affecting their competition dates earlier this spring. Cortland will compete at the ECAC Div. III Championships Thursday and Friday, May 14-15, at Springfield College. The NCAA Div. III Championships will be held May 21-23 at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.

Shinn won the 110-meter hurdles at Albany with an ECAC time of 14.56 seconds. He currently ranks 11th nationally in Div. III with that effort. Garcia finished fourth in the 100-meter dash in 10.67 seconds, and his prelim time of 10.53 seconds is an ECAC time and is 15th nationally.

Cortland won two relays, both with ECAC qualifying efforts. The 4x100-meter relay of Jerel Williams (East Islip), Romain Saint Germain (Westbury), Kenenna Emekekwue (Elmont/Sewanhaka) and Garcia finished in 41.76 seconds. Corey Cooper (Edgemont), Bryce Johnson (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills West), Richard Taylor (Westbury) and Williams won the 4x400-meter relay in 3:19.78.

Nick Vachon (Endwell/Maine-Endwell) placed second in the high jump at 1.99 meters (6' 6.25"), Johnson was third in the 400-meter dash (49.77), and Nick Avossa (Kingston) finished fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.21), all with ECAC times.

Nick Marcantonio (Glens Falls) was second in the 1,500-meter run in 4:02.19. Phil Lucien (Garnerville/North Rockland) placed fourth in the shot put (14.08 meters - 46' 2.5") and seventh in the discus (42.15 meters - 138' 3"). Dawan Jones (Buffalo/Tapestry Charter) finished fifth in the triple jump (13.07 meters - 42' 10.75") and Connor Christopherson (Morrisonville/Saranac) was sixth in the 200-meter dash (22.54).

For the men, the top 20 qualifiers nationally in each individual event and the top 16 relays qualify for nationals. In addition to Shinn and Garcia, Cortland athletes currently in the top 20, from previous performances, include: Garcia, 3rd, 200-meter dash (21.35); Marcantonio, 8th, 10,000 meters (30:25.88); Jarred Iacovelli (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional), 10th, 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:11.27); Christopherson, 11th, Decathlon (6,309 pts.); and Jones, 18th, Triple Jump (14.43 meters - 47' 4.25").

Complete Results (TFRRS)