AU competes at NY State outdoor track and field championships

The Alfred University men’s and women’s track and field teams finished sixth and ninth, respectively, at the New York State outdoor championship at RPI April 30-May 1.

“It was close for a bit there,” junior Melissa Haahr (Oswego, NY/ Tioga) said about the women’s ninth place finish. “We were tied with Naz for eighth place, duking it out, but they beat us in the end.”

The men’s team was lead by junior Shawn Ross (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) who won the state title in shot put (14.13 meters) and was runner-up in the discus (40.49).

The men also saw top performances from senior Lee Consolo (Pleasantville, NY/Pleasantville), who placed second in the 800-meter run (1:56.21 seconds); sophomore Rich Scott (Eden, NY/Eden), fourth in the 400 (49.64) and fifth in the 200 (22.16); and senior Matt Phillips (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane), seventh in the 800 (1:58.86).

Consolo said he was surprised at how well he performed in the 800. “For the past three years I have been training as a 400/200 meter runner so to try something new and take on the 800 at states was exciting and a little intimidating.”

He said he knew there would be some fast competitors in his heat but stayed relaxed and ran a smart race.

“I was really happy with my time and how everything turned out,” Consolo added.

The 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays also came up big for the men with fourth place finishes. The 4x100 (43.95) consisted of first-year student Jeremy Weaver (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic), sophomore Randy Brito (New York, NY/Cardinal Hayes), Cody Gleason and Scott. Weaver, Scott, Consolo and Phillips made up the 4X400 (3:23.30).

The women’s relays lead their team this time, taking fifth in the 4x100 with a time of 52.28 seconds. The team consisted of seniors Jen Chan (Angelica, NY/Genesee Valley) and Rachel Gaylord (Elmira, NY/Horseheads), and first-year students Emily Moorehead (Waverly, NY/Waverly) and Jordyn Larkins (Rochester, NY/Harley-Allendale-Columbia).

The 4x400 relay also picked up points for the women with an eighth-place finish (4:19.00). The team was lead by first-year student Amy Morrissey (Hornell, NY/ Hornell), Haahr, Gaylord, and senior Megan Crimmins (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads).

The women’s team also had some quality performances from individuals including Morrissey, 10th in the 400 (1:03.07); Moorehead, 11th in the javelin (27.45 meters) and shot put (9.82); freshman Kirstin Cook (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East), 13th in the discus (25.35 meters); Larkins and Morrissey, ninth (13.47 seconds) and 11th (13.62), respectively, in the 100; Crimmins, 13th in the 1,500 (4:59.47); Haahr, 14th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:54.65); and Gaylord, 14th in the 400-meter hurdles (1:12.18).

Morrissey said she was proud of how her teammates performed at the meet. “There were a lot of personal bests from everyone and I think we did a great job,” she added.