CURTIS HENRY
Special to The Leader
A number of Fredonia athletes on both the men’s and women’s track teams were able to help their stock this past weekend at the Cardinal Classic. The event, which took place at St. John Fisher College, was the last meet for the team before the SUNYAC Championships next week.
Headlining all performances Saturday was senior thrower Nicole Desens. Desens, who placed first in shot put in SUNYACs during the indoor track season this winter, threw a personal best of 43.99m in discus on Saturday.
Prior to this weekend, Desens ranked 35th in the nation with her previous best of 41.39m. While nothing is set in stone, Desens should climb the NCAA Division III leaderboards this week heading into SUNYACs. She also had a throw of 11.88m in shot put. As she heads into the SUNYAC Championships next week as the favorite in both events, Desens says it is important to keep a level head.
“I have always struggled with placing excess pressure on myself,” said Desens. “but I try to trust my body and not think too much about the title that is on the line.
“Everyone can have good and bad days. I found that the best way to approach SUNYACs is just like any other meet, by giving it everything I have,” she said.
The women’s side also saw two notable performances from junior sprinter Anna Dambacher. Dambacher finished first in both the 100m and 200m events, posting times of 12.51 seconds in the 100m and 26.00 seconds in the 200m. Finishing a close second in the 200m was freshman Brittany Feldman with a time of 26.10 seconds. As it stands, both are qualified for SUNYACs next week.
Senior Hailey Griewisch finished first in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.55 seconds. The time was a mere hundredth off from her personal best time of 15.54. The time solidifies her in sixth place in the SUNYAC heading into championships next week.
Rounding up a day of first-place performances on the women’s side was freshman Kristen Sawyer, who cleared a mark of 3.20m in the pole vault.
Several members of the men’s side were able to notch personal bests on Saturday, as well. The lone member of the squad to participate in the steeplechase was junior Connor Hayward, who posted a time of 10:23.15 on Saturday, a new personal best.
Sophomore Bobby Cooper had an eventful day, placing third in the 800m. In addition the team of juniors Nick Watson and Collin Mulcahy, senior Zakk Hess and Cooper took first in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:31.23.
The team had three throwers place in the top ten in the hammer throw event. Juniors Hsin Chin (second) and Sawyer Bell (fourth) were accompanied by sophomore Kyle Brown (ninth). All three will be throwing at SUNYACs next weekend at Brockport.
Freshman Damone Brown placed fourth in shot put before he managed a personal-best throw of 38.83m in discus. Rounding out a successful outing for the throwers was junior Kevin Geiser, who threw a season-best 44.50m in the javelin event.
Heading into SUNYAC competition next weekend, the team is more than prepared. Junior distance runner Kyle Collins says that the squad has definitely grown as a team this season.
“The long distance is always with each other from fall to spring between cross country and the track seasons,” Collins said. “I think now we’ve got a bond that is untouchable.”
Teammates Cody Martini and Cooper agreed with Collins.
“We wouldn’t have gotten this far if we weren’t training with each other,” said sophomore Martini. “Having those guys cheer you on, no matter what, you always have fans supporting you.”
“For me, having teammates running right there with you in any event definitely helps,” said Cooper. “You’re always pushing one another.”
On the field side of the team, sophomore Kyle Brown was very vocal with what he expects from his teammates and fans when it comes time for him to perform.
“Coming from a football background … Just the noise aspect, I don’t want to hear anything that’s said while I’m out there,” said Brown. “I want a big, convoluted mess of noise around me.”
“The noise, that’s what gets me going. That’s why I listen to loud, ignorant rap music before I throw,” concluded Brown with a chuckle.
The team thinks that past experience will be beneficial to this year’s SUNYAC performances across the board.
“We were pretty young last year. This year we’re mostly sophomores and juniors,” said Martini. “The first time you go out there your heart is racing and you’re nervous. After one or two times, you tend to be more relaxed.”
Martini finished by saying how much this weekend’s performance will be beneficial for next weekend at Brockport.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost heading in, knowing you can hit a certain time or that you can finish with a certain kick,” said Martini.
Cooper reiterated that confidence was important.
“It gives you momentum. Just like in any other sport, if you go into [SUNYACs] or playoffs or anything like that having run well, you come in with a different level of confidence,” Cooper said.
Both the women’s and the men’s sides will take the trip to Brockport on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, to compete in SUNYAC track and field championships.