Boston, MA - The Delhi Track and Field team took a few athletes to Boston for one of the biggest collegiate invitationals in the country, the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. The meet sprawls across two days and brings teams from all over the country and all divisions to race on the world's fastest track looking for big competition and fast times. For the first time in program history, a member of the track and field team at SUNY Delhi won an event in this historic meet that features many division I programs.
Joshua Jeffes made history in a lot of ways on Saturday. His victory in the 400 meters, where he topped a field of 213 runners, was the first in school history. His time of 47.05 seconds, shattered his own school record from earlier this season. The mark now ranks as the number one time in the Nation for NCAA Divison III. However, the most impressive stat on his performance is that it makes him the third fastest man in NCAA Division III history over 400 meters. Jeffes is having one heck of a senior campaign for the Broncos. Although he came to Delhi as a highly touted recruit, his progress on campus has been phenomenol. Jeffes already has the honor of being SUNY Delhi's first NCAA All-American when he placed eighth in the 400 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships two years ago. Now he is running faster indoor times than he has ever run outdoors!
Also running a lifetime best for the Bronco men was freshman Dayzin Lagare. Lagare ran 21.75 seconds to place 16th overall in the meet. That performance marks Lagare first time under 22 seconds for the event on an indoor facility and makes him the second fastest in program history, just behind Jeffes who has the school record at 21.73 seconds.
Delhi also had two women run the 200 meters at the historic meet and both had big days. Zoe Rodi continued her terific season, running a huge lifetime best of 26.29 seconds taking well over a half second off of her previous best run this season. That performance launches her into the all-time top five in program history, ranking at number three! Also running a new season best was senior Kadie-Ann Whyte. Whyte ran 26.64 for her first sub-27 performance of the year.
As all signs suggest the Broncos are getting into top form as they enter the late indoor season, the team will travel next weekend to Cornell University with a partial team, followed by a full team trip to Ocean Breeze in Staten Island the following Friday to wrap up the regular season.
