MARLBORO, NY (March 26) - The SUNY Delhi track and field teams kicked off their spring season with an abbreviated order of events meet hosted by Mount St. Mary College on Saturday. It was a cold day, but many strong performances were turend in by the Broncos.
For the women, Senior Jaylynn Sheppard hit a career milestone she has been chasing her whole career in grand fashion. Sheppard, who has been wanting to break the 13 second barrier and ran 13.00 seconds in her final meet last year, won the 100 meters in a huge best of 12.78 seconds. That mark moves her to number four in program history. Her sprint teammate Kadie-Ann Whyte placed third in the event with a time of 13.22 seconds. In the 200 meters, Sabrina Richards posted a top four finish placing third in 27.94 seconds. Sheppard and Whyte also teamed up with teammates Katerina Salcedo and Kimberly Dean to win the 400 meter relay in a good early season time of 50.85 seconds.
In the middle distance events, Katerina Salcedo won the 800 meter race with a time of 2:27.46. Shyanne Lawton posted a third place finish in the 1500 meters with a time of 6:01.44. In the 5,000 meters Marissa Lombardi got her first win of the season, running 21:18.57 with teammate Kristina Messler taking second in 22:32.92.
The women also had a big day in the throwing events. Kitty Messina and Rebecca Heuler posted one first place, two second place, one third and one fourth place finish between them. Messina won the Javelin with a throw of 23.85 meters, second in the shot put at 10.85 meters and fourth in the discus with a toss of 27.34 meters. Her mark in the shot put ranks her as the sixth best shot putter in program history. Heuler posted a second place finish in the discus with a throw of 33.18 meters and was third in the javelin with a throw of 21.84. Heuler's mark in the discus ranks as number two in school history.
On the men's side, the sprint duo of Naquille Harris and Joshua Jeffes picked up their outdoor season only two weeks removed from the NCAA Indoor National Championships. Harris jumped out and won the 100 meters with a time of 10.84 seconds while Jeffes placed fourth in 11.26 seconds. Jeffes picked up a win of his own in the 200 meters with a new outdoor best of 22.22 seconds. Harris and Jeffes also teamed up with teammates Owen Sleasman and Mickenson Simon to run a great early season time of 42.93 in the 400 meter relay to win that event.
In the distance events, three men posted high finishes in the 5,000 meters. Aidan Cutting won the event with a new personal best time of 15:44.92, just ahead of teammate Seth Bywater in second place in 15:50.57. Fellow Bronco Lewis Race also posted a strong race placing fourth in the event at 16:41.35, a lifetime best for him as well.
Quinton Robinson got back on the javelin runway for the first time in two years and sent one out over 40 meters in his return. His mark of 40.74 meters was good for fourth place in the event.
Next up for the team is a trip to The Ramapo Roadrunner Invitational next Friday and Saturday.
