CORTLAND, N.Y. and LEWISBURG, PA. – Sarah Parr (Cooperstown) broke the school record in the hammer throw to highlight the Cortland women's outdoor track and field performances during a two-meet weekend for the Red Dragons. 
 
Parr's performance came during Saturday's Cortland Upstate Alternative Meet. The Red Dragons also had athletes competing Saturday and Sunday at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic. 
 
Cortland Upstate Alternative Recap: 
 
Parr won the hammer throw in a field of 22 competitors with a distance of 49.02 meters (160' 10"), breaking the previous school mark of 48.99 meters (160' 8") set by Harley Buczkowski in 2019. Parr's effort is currently ranked 26th nationally in Division III and first in the SUNYAC. 
 
Parr turned in one of Cortland's four All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference (AARTFC) qualifiers at the meet. Becca Bready (Rochester/Gates Chili) tied for second in the pole vault at 3.40 meters (11' 1.75"), which is currently tied for first in the SUNYAC. Mariah Saggese (Oneonta/Milford) was second in the high jump with a height of 1.61 meters (5' 3.25") and Caitlin Maher (Hartsdale/Ardsley) finished second in the triple jump at 10.86 meters (35' 7.75"). 
 
Emma Trefzger (Horseheads) and Vanessa Burkard (Newfane) claimed the top two spots in the 5,000 meters. Trefzger won in 20:10.14 and Burkard was second in 20:12.59. Three Red Dragons placed in the top six in the discus. Megan Spencer (Somers) was third at 32.09 meters (105' 3"), Jessica Neubert (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) finished fifth at 30.46 meters (99' 11") and Jennifer Ndukwu (Queens/Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School) placed sixth at 29.71 meters (97' 5"). Ndukwu was also fifth in the hammer throw at 43.45 meters (142' 6"). 
 
Regan Kaiser (Glens Falls) finished third in the high jump (1.55 meters/5' 1"), Abbie Gregory (Guilderland) was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.04) and Helena Trackey (Glens Falls) finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:15.19). Anika Parnell (Corinth) and Andie Rice (Louisville, KY/Kentucky Country Day) were fifth (5:13.78) and sixth (5:20.04), respectively, in the 1,500 meters, Gianna Motto (East Islip) placed sixth in the 100-meter dash (13.15) and Hannah Preble (Blauvelt/Tappan Zee) was sixth in the javelin (25.23 meters/82' 9"). 
 
Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic Recap: 
 
Cortland registered seven AARTFC qualifying efforts at Bucknell, led by Autumn Pittman (Spring Valley/Ramapo) who was 27th of 91 in the 100-meter dash (12.41) and 35th of 102 in the 200-meter dash (25.65). Her 100-meter time is currently first in the SUNYAC. 
 
Pittman anchored the 4x100-meter relay unit that also included Kendall Sobczyk (Wheatfield/Niagara Wheatfield), Alyssa LaBelle (Poughquag/Arlington) and Julia Ross (Sloatsburg/Suffern) and finished in 20th place in 49.38 seconds. The quartet of Avery Hebert (Stillwater), Yasmine Peralta (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury), Maris Seabury (Old Chatham/Ichabod Crane) and Sam Becker (Narrowsburg/Sullivan West) placed 19th in the 4x400-meter relay in 4:07.12. 
 
Cortland's other AARTFC performances were Becker's 14th-place showing in the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.66), Khalifah Tracey's (Greenville) 16th-place finish in the 5,000 meters (18:43.37) and Rachel Castello's (Cheektowaga/West Seneca East) 36th-place effort in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:33.98).

Coach's Corner - Comments from Cortland Head Coach Steve Patrick:

Certainly an exciting weekend of track and field for the Cortland Red Dragons!

There were a lot of great performances at home on Saturday, with Sarah Parr setting a new school record in the women's hammer throw to lead the way! Isaiah Brunache has also entered the top five list with his toss in the discus, but it seems as though overall that group had a pretty phenomenal weekend!

We had some very strong performances in the jumps as well, with significant PRs from Zach Nyhart and Becca Bready in the pole vault, Hagie Sesay and Joe Mascetta in the long jump, Caitlin Maher in the triple jump, and by Mariah Saggese and Regan Kaiser in the high jump.

I'd also like to acknowledge RJ Davis and Emma Trefzger for wins in the men's and women's 5ks, as well as Gianna Motto and Zaire Higgins for having very strong days in both the 100 and 200, Nate Wilsoncroft for a great 800, and Aidan Aguirre with a win in the 400 hurdles and a very strong anchor in the 4x400.

The meet at Bucknell felt a bit like it would never end. On Saturday, we had pretty much all good performances in the distance events, but at the same time left a lot on the table. I think it's fair to say that we had a lot of good steps forward, but aren't satisfied with where we are yet. What stands out is Matthew Mullen, who made some very good decisions over the course of his steeplechase to set a new PR, and the trio on the 5k of Khalifah Tracey, Adrienne Martin, and Devin Reilly, who stayed very focused, worked together well, and ran tough to all set new PRS!

Sunday at Bucknell became a challenge, in that it was a very long, hot day. We spent nearly 11 hours at the facility, and that can be a strain on athletes. While we certainly enjoyed having a hot, sunny day, that created some different challenges then what we are used to. That's ok though in that it's a good learning experience. Sometimes you only learn through those experiences.

Both 4x1s started the day off right, and we kept that momentum with our 800s. At the end of the day, we brought those folks back for the rarely-run 4x800 relay. It was good training, and pretty fun! It was also nice to have the wonen's squad break 10 minutes and the men's squad break 8 minutes, which is a nice benchmark of being a strong program.

Austin Garske probably takes the 'gold star' for the day with his hurdle race that is another big PR and moves him into the top 5 list, along with leading off the 4x4 relay in a great split that also entered our top 5 list.

I'm sure I've missed some other strong performances that deserve mention, but I want to get these comments submitted before it gets much later!

We host the Cortland Classic this upcoming Friday and Saturday, and are looking forward to having the whole team at home for a great weekend of competition on Friday and Saturday.