ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cortland men's indoor track and field team finished in first place at a quad meet hosted by Ithaca College. 
 
Cortland won the title with 81 points, followed by TCNJ with 52, Oneonta with 25 and Ithaca with 6. First place finishes earned five points, followed by three points for second, two points for third, and one point for fourth (except for relays, where only the top three places scored and schools were limited to one scoring team). 
 
Cortland registered eight victories at the meet. Isaiah Brunache (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union) recorded two of those with wins in the weight throw (17.59 meters/57' 8.5") and the shot put (15.67 meters/51' 5"). Both are AARTFC qualifiers, and his weight throw ranks 17th nationally in Division III as of Saturday evening. Amarian Hughes (Newburgh/Marlboro) won the triple jump with an AARTFC distance of 14.34 meters (47' 0.75") that ranks 12th nationally. 
 
Deontae Bennett (Greenwich) won the long jump with an AARTFC mark of 6.77 meters (22' 2.25") and Hunter Brignall (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy) hit a qualifying mark with his winning time of 4:18.23 in the mile run. Bennett also posted an AARTFC mark with his fifth-place time of 7.06 seconds in the 60-meter dash. 
 
The combination of Doug Knapp (Brooklyn/Xaverian), Zion Cheatham (Lockport), Aidan Garafola (Bayport/Bayport-Blue Point) and Harrison Gavalas (Southampton) won the 4x400-meter relay in 3:25.73, also an AARTFC qualifier. Cortland's other winners were Knapp in the 500 meters (1:07.58) and Cameron Szabo (Owego/Owego Free Academy) in the 800 meters (1:57.77). 
 
The Red Dragons earned six runner-up finishes, led by Aaron Jones (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) in the 200-meter dash (AARTFC qualifying 22.31 seconds). Andrew O'Gorman (Melville/Half Hollow Hills East) was second in the 400-meter dash (50.90), Gavalas placed second in the 500 meters (1:09.14), Jack Bisbee (Deer Park/Half Hollow Hills West) was second in the 800 meters (2:00.45), Logan Buchanan (Dundee) was runner-up in the high jump (1.83 meters/6' 0") and Hayden Erick (Dundee) was second in the triple jump (12.56 meters/41' 2.5"). Two of Cortland's third-place finishers hit AARTFC marks - Matthew Schaffert (Lockport) in the 60-meter dash (7.02) and Evan Collette (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) in the weight throw (15.51 meters/50' 10.75"). 
 
Other Red Dragon top-four finishers included: 
 
3rd place: 
O'Gorman, 200-meter dash, 22.88 
Garafola, 400-meter dash, 50.95 
Cheatham, 500 meters, 1:09.89 
Lenny Diaz (Newburgh/Newburgh Free Academy), 800 meters, 2:00.81 
Brandon Mulholland (Syracuse/Westhill), 3,000 meters, 9:00.61 
Roland Zanger (Port Jervis), 60-meter hurdles, 8.94 
Hughes, Long Jump, 6.44 meters (21' 1.5") 
Mitch Diamond (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills West), Triple Jump, 12.04 meters (39' 6") 
4x400-meter relay - O'Gorman, Brandon Levin (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Brandon Root (Merrick/John F. Kennedy), Szabo - 3:32.48 (no points since Cortland's second-best relay) 
 
4th place: 
Levin, 200m dash, 22.92 
Levin, 400m dash, 52.38 
Alex Garcia (Valhalla), 500 meters, 1:11.93 
 
Cortland returns to action next Saturday at the Nazareth College Conference Challenge Cup.

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

We're really impressed as a coaching staff with the attitude and approach that the team took today. We had a lot of folks who are tired from the tough work they have committed to do during winter break, so there were a lot of 'heavy' legs and a general fatigue with what we were doing.
 
We saw a lot of great efforts and focus on our attitude about how we are going compete, about how we need to execute the skills in the various events properly, and how this meet is a part of our overall development across the season.
 
To identify a few highlights on the day, the women's 60m group ran incredibly well, with Kendall Sobczyk setting a new school record, Autumn Pittman with a huge PR to tie our #3 all-time mark, and Gianna Motto hitting a new PR in the event. Deontae Bennett put together a strong day as well, with a great mark in the long jump and a big PR in the 60. Avery Hebert came through with a solid 500, and a sub-60 second leg in the 4x400 relay. Amarian Hughes not only had a strong performance in the long jump, but came through with a big triple jump, especially for early in the season. Hannah McMasters put up a new PR in the weight throw, as did Isaiah Brunache. There are a number of other folks that hit personal records either all-time or specific to indoor track, which is really quite exciting!
 
With classes beginning again on Monday, we will be back into a somewhat 'normal' schedule, and are looking forward to a bit more of a recovery week of training before heading to Nazareth College for the 2024 Conference Cup!