ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cortland women's indoor track and field team earned nine All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference (AARTFC) qualifying marks at the Cornell University Kane Invitational.
 
Autumn Pittman (Spring Valley/Ramapo) recorded two of those marks, placing fourth in the 60-meter dash (7.82) and fourth in the 200-meter dash (25.78). Two of the Red Dragons' regional marks came in the 5,000 meters as Alexa Wolcott (Wyoming/Pavilion) finished second (18:43.19) and Melissa Innocent (Elmont/Valley Stream North) was third (18:49.95).
 
Kelly Newman (Harrison) placed second in the 800 meters (2:22.73), Kendall Sobczyk (Wheatfield/Niagara Wheatfield) was sixth in the 60-meter dash (7.99, 7.98 prelims) and Alexia Prince (Spring Valley/Clement Howell) was seventh in the 200-meter dash (26.43), all with AARTFC efforts. Prince also placed 12th in the 60-meter dash in 8.10 seconds.
 
Jennifer Ndukwu (Queens/Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School) finished fourth in the weight throw with an AARTFC distance of 15.83 meters (51' 11.25"), and Kayla Tretola (Levittown/Island Trees) hit an AARTFC mark with a sixth-place shot put of 12.18 meters (39' 11.5"). Tretola also placed 10th in the weight throw at 12.97 meters (42' 6.75").
 
Julia Benton (Addison) recorded a fourth-place time of 18:55.84 in the 5,000 meters. The 4x400-meter relay team of Izzie Bosko (Hillsdale/Taconic Hills), Newman, Yasmine Peralta (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) and Matty Lucey (Freeville/Groton) finished third in 4:18.21. In the 400-meter dash, Lucey was 10th (1:02.66) and Bosko placed 11th (1:03.55).
 
Cheyenne McPeek (Johnson City) was eighth in the shot put (11.65 meters/38' 2.75") and 12th in the weight throw (12.43 meters/40' 9.5"). AnJalyna Talmadge (Pine Bush) finished ninth in the shot put (11.61 meters/38' 1.25") and Ndukwu was 10th (11.50 meters/37' 8.75"). Sammie Salisbury (Poughkeepsie/Arlington) and Jewel Jones (Long Beach) finished eighth (5:30.17) and ninth (5:34.30), respectively, in the mile run.
 
Cortland earned two top-10 finishes in the triple jump with Eilise Marino (West Sayville/Sayville) in ninth (10.32 meters/33' 10.25") and Lillian Swyers (Peru) in 10th (10.28 meters/33' 8.75"). Swyers also was 11th in the long jump (4.96 meters/16' 3.25"). Regan Kaiser (Queensbury/Glens Falls) finished ninth in the high jump (1.49 meters/4' 10.5") and Jade Hornick (Valley Stream/Valley Stream South) was 10th in the 3,000 meters (11:36.37).

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

Obviously the run at Boston University by the men's relay was pretty exciting – earning the victory was certainly exciting, as was the new school record. One of the most exciting things is that only Zion Cheatham really ran his leg close to his potential – and it was an excellent leg! When we get all four legs running as well as Zion did and some close competition, it should be exciting!
 
From the Kane Invite at Cornell, there were a number of great things!. Firstyear Kayla Tretola was probably the women's highlight, as every one of her legal throws in the shot put was a new PR; her best throw was an astounding 3' better than her previous best! That was a pretty exceptional achievement!
 
Fellow firstyear Eilise Marino had a great double, breaking 10 seconds in the 60 meter high hurdles, and breaking the 10 meter barrier in the triple jump. Both are great markers of her progress. And while not a double, Julia Benton broke through the 19-minute barrier in a tough 5k, putting together a really strong effort over her 25 laps. In the middle distances, Kelly Newman (800), Sammie Salisbury (mile), and Jewel Jones (mile) all ran strong season's bests.
 
Amarian Hughes led the men with the PR/victory in the long jump, and an exceptional series in the triple jump. Roland Zanger led the men's high hurdle contingent as he, Christian Hunter, and Evan Cruz all PR'd in the finals with strong efforts; Roland also hit a season's best in the high jump. Mitch Diamond had a very solid day with a big PR in the 60m along with a very consistent series in triple jump; classmate Evan Collette set a PR in the shot put and very nearly broke his PR in the weight throw. From the distance events, Brandon Mulholland ran his second PR in as many weeks, with a great effort in the 5000.
 
We return to Cornell next weekend to tune up for the SUNYAC Championships – we're excited about the direction the program is taking!