Sage track teams ready for action at 2019 Empire 8 Championship
SAGE TRACK TEAMS OPEN 2019 EMPIRE 8 CHAMPIONSHIP
Link to Scoring and Championship Web Site
Houghton, NY— The Sage Colleges' men's and women's outdoor track and field teams are opening the 2019 Empire 8 Track and Field Championships on Friday on the campus of Houghton College. The two-day event will wrap with the crowning of the league's men's and women's team champions as well as individual champions in 18 events on Friday and another 28 events.
Sage's teams are directed by rookie head coach David Taranto and assistant coach Spencer Patterson. New to the programs this spring, this pair has helped the Gator men's and women's team break school records in 11 different events, while some events have had their school marks broken multiple times already.
Among the women's team members that have been part of the record-breaking efforts are junior Skylar Van Alstyne (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill), who owns the school records in the shot put, discus, and javelin.
Sophomore Sevi Travis (Cohoes, NY/Shaker) owns the school record in the 800 meter run (2:33.03), while freshman Kerry Flower (Schenactady, NY/Schalmont) has laid claim to the school records in the 1,500 meter run (5:09.88), the 5,000 meter run (19:02.96), and the 10,000 meter run (38:43.00). She had held the record in the 800 meter run until it was broken last week by Travis.
Sage's senior co-captain Sagan Leggett (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) owns the school mark in the 3,000 meter run (11:47.22), while rookie Kristin McAlonen (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) set the record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase this year (13:14.25).
Junior Joanna Tavolaro (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin Perth) set the school records in the pole vault (2.45 meters) and the triple jump (9.86 meters) as a rookie on the 2017 team.
Senior co-captain Victoria Opalka (Fort Johnson, NY/Broadalbin-Perth), junior Amanda Jones (West Sand Lake, NY/Columbia), and Leggett have also penned their names to school relay teams during their time at Sage and will look to improve upon their times this weekend.
For the Gator men's team, 2019 has been a banner year as well. This lineup has also made their mark in the program's record book. For three straight weeks, Sage men broke school records at various meets.
Sage broke the men's 4 x 400 relay with a time of 3:36.82 behind the efforts of sophomore Ellis Richardson (Hudson, NY/Hudson), rookie Tyler Mitchell (Bronx, NY/All Hallows), rookie Ramosaj Williams (Hyde Park, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt), and junior Arnoldo Burnett (Bronx, NY/John F. Kennedy). The 2019 Gators also set a new standard third in the 4 x 100 relay and broke the Sage record as well with a time of 45.00, bettering the old mark of 46.46 from 2015. The relay consisted of Williams, Burnett, Mitchell and Richardson.
Richardson also set the school record in the 800 meter run with his school record time of 2:04.74 beating his own record set in March of 2:05.19.
Senior captain Jarryd Wick (Ayers, MA/E.F. Parker School) has also contributed to the team's success as he was part of the first 4 x 400 relay this spring and set a standard that was later broken by this team two weeks later.
