JORDAN PURVIS
Special to The Leader
This past weekend, SUNYAC hosted their two-day men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships event in Geneseo, N.Y.
Last season, the Cortland men’s track and field team won their league title after winning the 2017 championship with 191.5 points. However, Geneseo took the 2018 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men’s outdoor track and field championship crown with 208.16 points.
In the end, the Blue Devils finished in sixth with 48 points. Most of the points came from senior star Justyn Haines, who finished the 4×100 coming in seventh in 44.21 — as well as securing conference champ in the pole vault by clearing 4.55 meters (14 feet, 11 inches).
Before the championship, Haines was No. 12 nationally among NCAA Division III men. Later on this month, he will be participating at the national meet.
“My goal for the remainder of the season is to go to nationals, place top eight and win All-American status. Since I came to Fredonia, I’ve also had my eye on the school record,” said Haines.
When asking Haines what kept him focused and confident throughout his collegiate career he said, “My brother is my biggest mentor. He is always there for me and believes in me every step of the way. I think he gets more excited about my good performances than I do sometimes,” he said, jokingly. “He is the reason I started pole vaulting from the beginning, and he is a huge factor in what I have achieved so far. All of my coaches have had huge impacts on my life as well. From Coach Wayne Wadhams in high school to Coach Tom Wilson and Coach Ryan Pericozzi currently, their influences and lessons make me look forward to my future and what I will be able accomplish.”
As he transitions from taking off his jersey for the last time to moving on to the next phase of his life not relating to sports, he plans on pursuing a career in law enforcement
“I will need to take a few more tests, but my sights are set on becoming a state trooper,” he said.
Embarking onto the next chapter of his life, Haines will be leaving behind great coaches, teammates and friends.
“My advice to my teammates is to stick with it. It is easy to develop bad habits. As long as you know and believe in what you want to accomplish, nothing should get in the way of that.”
He later added, “Keep grades up and trudge through the hard semesters. Time flies, so use every season as a building block for the next. Don’t think you are trapped if you start plateauing, just find a way around whatever might be holding you back.”
Haines moved up to No. 2 on the Fredonia Outdoor Top 10 performance list. In addition, Division III Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship will be held May 24-26, 2018 at La Crosse, W.I.