A slew of Eastern College Athletic Conference qualifiers became the story for the UR men’s and women’s track and field teams this past weekend.
The women impressed the competition at the Colgate University Class of ’32 Invitational this past Saturday, earning a top-three finish for the second-straight week.
ECAC qualifiers included junior Jacqueline Cinella in the 400 meter and junior Yaneve Fonge in the weight throw.
‘Jacqueline and Yaneve have just been outstanding for us this season,” Director of Track and Field Albert Samuel said. ‘I was really excited to see both of them win their events at Colgate over some of the top collegiate athletes in New York State. Both of them have their sights on State and ECAC Championships and a trip to the NCAAs, and they look to be right on track to achieve these goals.”
The women’s team has already produced over 10 qualifiers for the ECAC and the New York State Collegiate Track Conference Championships qualifiers after only two meets.
The women look ahead to the NYSCTC championships on Feb. 26.
‘With some continued hard work over the next few weeks, I expect we will be serious contenders for the NYSCTC Championship at the end of the month,” Samuel said.
On the men’s side, despite a 10th-place finish, the distance medley relay team pulled out a ECAC qualifying time of 10:26.15. This group included sophomores Greg Hartnett and Andrew Fleisher and juniors Alex Federation and A.J. Lee.
The men still have plenty of time before the ECAC Championships to qualify and improve on the little things needed to win.
‘Although we’ve had some great times and distances in both the field events and running events, we are not up to par to what we could potentially be,” Hartnett said. ‘It’s all about being competitive when you’re at the meet. All our athletes have been working real hard in practice, and I think everyone will see that over the next few weeks.”
One bright spot on the men’s team is sophomore Will McMunigal. He has already earned a trip to the NYSCTC Championship qualifiers in both the long jump and high jump.
‘Will has been our top men’s jumper this winter, and has finished first or second just about every weekend,” Samuel said. ‘He had another strong showing in the long jump at Colgate, and we’re looking for him to really help us out when we get to the conference and ECAC Championships.”
With the NYSCTC Championships on the horizon for the track and field teams with the ECAC Championship not long after, both teams are focused on the tough road ahead.
Manrique is a member of the class of 2012.
