The SUNY Cortland men's and women's outdoor track and field teams competed in three "last chance" meets over the past weekend and into Monday. The Red Dragons sent a handful of competitors to the Allegheny Gator Invitational on Friday, May 12, the St. John Fisher Last Chance Meet on Saturday, May 13, and the Swarthmore Final Qualifier on Monday, May 15.

Despite the "final" nature of these meets, the Red Dragons still have one more chance to have athletes either qualify for nationals or improve on their standings. Cortland will send competitors to the Oneonta Last Chance Invitational Wednesday and Thursday, May 17-18, instead of its original plans to compete at the ECAC Division III Championships.

The NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held May 25-27 in Geneva, Ohio. The top 22 women and top 20 men in each individual event, and the top 16 relay teams for both genders, will qualify for nationals.

On the men's side, Nick Vachon (Johnson City/Maine-Endwell) tied for second in the high jump (1.99 meters/6' 6.25") and C.J. White (Middletown) was sixth in the triple jump (13.78 meters/45' 2.5") at Allegheny. At St. John Fisher, Mitch Couch (Oneonta) won both the discus (47.88 meters/157' 1") and the hammer throw (56.33 meters/184' 10"), while Andrew Yarde (Valley Stream/Holy Trinity) (55.83), Austen Johnson (Jamestown) (55.94) and Noah Serrette (Lawrence) (56.10) placed third, fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 400-meter hurdles.

At Swarthmore, Mitch Ryan (Plattsburgh/Seton Catholic) improved to second nationally in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with his fifth-place (second collegiate) time of 9:02.30. Couch was second in the discus (44.49 meters/145' 11") and Vachon placed second in the high jump (1.95 meters/6' 4.75"). Dev Williams (Syracuse/Corcoran) finished fifth in the long jump (6.97 meters/22' 10.5"), Storm Malone (Harrison/Highland) was sixth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.74), Dawan Jones (Buffalo/Tapestry Charter) placed seventh in the triple jump (14.07 meters/46' 2"), and White was 10th in the triple jump (13.87 meters/45' 6.25").

For the Red Dragon women, Midge Moore (Massapequa) finished third in the 100-meter dash (12.58, 12.56 prelims) and Dana Messina (East Meadow) was seventh in the event (13.13) at Allegheny. Moore and Messina were also second (26.24) and fifth (26.82), respectively, in the 200-meter dash. Dana Kupiec (Salem) finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.08) and Kaylee Uhl (Waverly) was seventh in the event (1:07.90).

Cat Lutjen (Sound Beach/Miller Place) finished second in the javelin at St. John Fisher at 34.05 meters (111' 8"). At Swarthmore, Moore finished fifth (12.28) and Kelly Gardner (Lake Ronkonkoma/Sachem North) was 25th (12.95) in the 100-meter dash. In the 200, Kupiec placed fifth (25.45) and Messina 20th (26.52). Uhl was sixth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:05.38) and Allison Schumann (North Salem) finished fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:59.47). Moore, Kupiec, Messina and Gardner were third in the 4x100-meter relay (47.97).

Results Links:
Allegheny
St. John Fisher (Men)
St. John Fisher (Women)
Swarthmore (TFRRS page)
Swarthmore (PDF)