For Immediate Release: February 14, 2006
Contact: Janelle Feuz, SUNYAC Publicist

SUNYAC INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR SATURDAY
Plattsburgh to host this year’s championships in Geneva, NY

FREDONIA, NY – The 2006 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Men and Women’s Indoor Track Championships will be held Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Bristol Field House at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. Teams from Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, Oneonta, Oswego and Plattsburgh will compete in this year’s 24^th annual men’s and 23^rd annual women’s competitions.

On the men’s side, the Geneseo Blue Knights beat Cortland last year by a mere 5.5 points. Dan Fitzgibbons (Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Manlius) and Paul Torres (Woodhaven/Archbishop Molloy) return for Geneseo to defend their respective titles. Fitzgibbons won the 800 meters and Torres was the champion in the 55 meter hurdles. Junior Nick Wetherby (Olean) returns for Cortland to defend both of his two year titles in the 55 and 200 meters.

Other returning title holders from 2005 include senior Matt DeShane (Norwood/Norwood-Norfolk) of Plattsburgh who was a double winner in the 1000 and 1500 meters last year, while teammate Jason Dessureault (Champlain/Northeastern Clinton) won the 500 meters. Scott Pollard (Spring Valley/Ramapo) of Oneonta in the 400 meters, Shomari Felder (Syracuse/Fowler) of Oswego in the high jump, and Brockport teammates Josh Dubpuis (Tupper Lake) in the shot put and Jake Basher (Lancaster) in the weight throw also return to defend their crowns.

The Geneseo women look to capture their fourth consecutive title this year. In 2005 the Knights finished the meet with 250 points, 108 ahead of second-place Cortland. The Knights return senior, Marta Scott (South Wales/East Aurora) who is looking for her fourth straight title in the 800 meters. Scott is also a two time champion in the 1500 meters and will look to claim the one mile event this year. Geneseo also returns senior Mary Kosloski (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) who is a three time title winner in the triple jump. Senior Fran Magri (Rochester/Irondequoit), last year’s 1000 meter champion, also returns for the Knights.

The Cortland Red Dragons, 2002 Champions, will fight to regain the thrown after coming in behind Geneseo the past three years. Junior Christina Acquaviva (Utica/T.R. Proctor) returns for Cortland to defend her 2005 titles in the 55 meter hurdles and the long jump. Oneonta has placed third the last two years and returns senior Musu Jackson-Buckner (Buffalo/Buffalo Seminary) and graduate student Ashlee Robertson (Mechanicville/Shenendehowa) to lead the Red Dragons. Jackson-Buckner was the 2005 champion in both the 55 and 200 meters, while Robertson is looking to claim her third straight title in the 400 meters.

Plattsburgh’s Samantha Paul (Setuaket/Ward Melville) and Brockport’s Anne Gores (Lowville) will look to defend their titles in the 500 meters and pole vault, respectively.

The all day event begins at 9 a.m. with the women’s weight throw and concludes with the men’s 3200-meter relay at 4:20 p.m. For more information, including up-to-date performance lists, visit the indoor track and field page on the SUNYAC website at www.sunyac.com/indoortrack.

2005 Final Team Standings

Women Pts. Men Pts.

1. Geneseo 250 1. Geneseo 164.5

2. Cortland 142 2. Cortland 159

3. Oneonta 82 3. Oneonta 128

4. Brockport 80.5 4. Brockport 113.5

5. Fredonia 75 5. Plattsburgh 98

6. Plattsburgh 55.5 6. Buffalo State 30

7. Oswego 31 7. Oswego 29

8. Buffalo State 17 8. Fredonia 17

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