BETHLEHEM, PA (May 19, 2022) - SUNY Delhi had another great showing that the All Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference Championships (AARTFC) hosted at Moravian College this week. The meet was spread out over two days with the intent to give athletes a championship meet to wrap up their seasons as well as one last opportunity to stake their claim to a position in the NCAA Championships. The Broncos saw four more school records fall, two of which established new AARTFC Championship meet records.
Sprinter Naquille Harris, who had not raced since the NAC Championships at Delhi on May 1, showed that he is more than ready for the NCAA Championships hosted at Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio next weekend. In his 100 meter prelimary race, he broke his own school and meet record posting a wind legal time of 10.37 seconds. He established the AARTFC meet record at 10.49 seconds last spring and had already lowered the SUNY Delhi record to 10.39 earlier this season at the Bucknell Bison Classic. On day two, he won the 100 meter finals, again lowering both records to 10.35 seconds. He won by a large margin, a full three-tenths clear of the runner up. His big performances continued into the 200 meter final where he again broke the meet and school record that he established at the AARTFC Championships last year, running 21.07 seconds. Both of his times rank fifth in the NCAA heading into the NCAA Championships next week.
Fellow sprinter Kadie-Ann Whyte wrapped her season up in style. Running the 200 meter dash as a wild card entry after falling 0.03 seconds short of qualifying, she won her heat in the new school record time of 25.53 seconds. That time breaks the FAT record set by Cassie Williams of 25.81 seconds back in 2004.
The final school record to fall came from Katerina Salcedo. Salcedo ran to a new school record in the 800 meters for the third time this season and the second time in four days. On Monday, she ran a big school record time of 2:16.29 which was just good enough to get her into the fast heat on Thrusday. She took full advantage of the opportunity, running another huge record of 2:14.38 to place second in the heat and third overall in the meet. Salcedo's week has lowered her school record in the 800 meters an amazing 3.65 seconds in four days!
Joshua Jeffes also posted a strong finish in the 400 meters. He ran to a second place finish with a time of 48.01 seconds. His time of 47.71 from Sunday currently ranks as 19th in the NCAA and looks to land him a spot in next weeks championship meet. Also posting results for the men was Mickenson Simon who ran to a 22.70 second performance in the 200 meters placing 21st.
Other Broncos competing in the meet included Sabrina Richards, who ran another lifetime best of 59.23 seconds in the 400 meters to place 22nd overall. Thrower Kitty Messina had a busy meet, throwing 34.32 meters in the javelin placing 13th, 10.77 meters in the shot put placing 23rd and 35.13 meters in the discus placing 27th. Fellow thrower Rebecca Heuler threw 35.14 meters in the javelin placing 10th and 35.67 meters in the discus placing 23rd. At last update, Heuler stood at 19th in the nation for the javelin with her throw of 40.69 meters from Sunday and looks to be a qualifier for the NCAA Championships. Richards, Salcedo, Jaylyn Sheppard and Whyte all teamed up to run to an 11th place finish in the 4x100 meter relay with a time of 49.08.
In the end, the men's team compiled 28 points, good enough to place eighth as a team in the field of 55 schools. The women's total of six points courtesy of Salcedo placed in a tie for 28th place in the field of 54 schools. With most athletes seasons complete, we now wait to see which athletes make the field for the NCAA Championships next Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Ohio.
