Behrend Indoor Track & Field Set To Be First Time Competitors in SUNYAC Championships

BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's indoor track & field teams will compete for the first time as a member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Conference in the Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 – Mar. 1. The two-day championships will take place at the Special Events Recreation Center in Brockport, NY, beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Friday and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Coverage:

Live Results | Video | Events Schedule

Behrend News & Notes:

Men

* The top-18 times/marks in the SUNYAC have qualified for conference championships with two wildcard spots available for each school
* Not including the relay events, the Behrend men will have 23 athletes compete on Friday and Saturday
* Behrend had four throwers qualify in the shot put: Alex Cotton (Saxonburg, PA/Knoch), Antonio Faraone (New Castle, PA/Union), Dan Dabrowski (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek), and Max Rohl (Horsehead, NY/Horseheads). Ryan Visosky (Erie, Pa/McDowell) will serve as the wildcard selection in the shot put
* Three athletes qualified for the 60m dash: Marshall Nock (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell), Jake Egizio (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan), and Carter Tobin (Irwin, PA/Norwin)
* Tobin and Egizio are joined by wildcard option Jake Nardozza (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford) in the 200m
* Distance runners David Gahagan (South Park, PA/South Park), Drew Knight (Butler, PA/Butler), and Aidan Reinsel (North East, PA/North East) will run in the 800m, while Peyton Brewer (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek) takes part in the mile
* In the 3000m, Tim Hamilton (Winchester, MA/Winchester) and Bennett Kerr (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) will be in action on Saturday
* Kerr is flanked by Brewer and Alex Haskins (North East, PA/North East) in the 5000m
* Three Lions were qualifiers in the high jump: Derek Hillhouse (Erie, PA/McDowell), Boden Gushie (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek), and Cole Cunningham (Mercer, PA/Mercer)
* Cunningham and three-seeded Brandon Konieczki (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek) will be the long jump competitors
* Coming in as the first-seed in the pole vault is senior Ryan Festa (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) with a mark of 14-9 (4.50m)
* Dominic Marino (Girard, PA/Girard) (60m Hurdles) and Hayden Travers (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) (Weight Throw) are the lone participants for Behrend in their respective events

Women

* Not including the relay events, the Behrend women will have 18 athletes compete at indoor championships
* Senior Madison Kappeler (Cecil, PA/Canon-McMillan) will be featured in four events as a top-10 seed in the pole vault, long jump, 200m, and 60m
* Kappeler is joined by a pair of teammates in the pole vault: Noelani Takei (Fremont, CA/Irvington) and Grace Jones (Union City, PA/Union City), while Jaade Duncan (Turner Falls, MA/Turner Falls) and Rachel Skoczlas (Bridgeville, PA/Canon-McMillan) will be in the 60m with Kappeler
* Duncan and Kappeler along with wildcard pick Ivy Laffan (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) will run the 200m
* Laffan and freshman Ella McGowan (Erie, PA/Waterford) qualified for the 400m
* A quartet of distance runners will take part in the 3000m and 5000m: Lindsey Hartle (Pittsburgh, PA/Avonworth), Bethany Litwiler (Reynolds, PA/Reynolds), Baylee Dernar (Wattsburg, PA/Seneca) (3000 only), Sam Abate (North East, PA/North East) (5000 only)
* Alivia Hetrick (Waterford, PA/Waterford) (Mile) and Abby Major (Erie, PA/McDowell) (800m) round out the distance events
* The weight throw will be highlighted by Jessica Park (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow) and wildcard selection Norah Keeney (Ontario, NY/Wayne)
* Jones (Triple Jump), Olivia Swinarski (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek) (High Jump), and Braylee Lukehart (Reynoldsville, PA/DuBois Area) (Shot Put) are the lone participants for Behrend in their respective events
* Each institution will do a final relay card on site to determine the participants for the distance medley and 4x4 relays
* The top-3 finishers in each event will be named to the All-Conference Team

Tickets:

* Tickets will be available for purchase on-site. Ticket sales and doors open Friday at 2 p.m.

Prices:
Adults - $10/day
Children (Ages 5-12) - $5/day
Children (4 and under) – Free
SUNYAC/AMCC students with ID – Free