Numerous athletes qualify for nationals in first meet

CLINTON, NY – The Herkimer Generals track & field program traveled to Hamilton College on Saturday (3/26) to compete in their first meet of the season at Pritchard Track. After 43 events, the men posted nine top 10 and women posted seven top 10 finishes in the NJCAA DIII.

Leading the way for the men was Christopher Simmons (Utica, NY). The sophomore placed first in the triple jump (13.11m), second in the long jump (6.28m) and 100-meter (11.18) and third in the high jump (1.67m). His 11.18 in the 100 is currently the second fastest time in the nation, his 6.28m in the long jump is eighth best and his 13.11m in the triple jump is the third best.

Simmons wasn’t the only male to post a top 10 NJCAA DIII national time however. Demetrius Moore (Cleveland, OH), Matt Manda (Scotia, NY), Norman Clayton (Bronx, NY), Tyrique Rideau (Westchester, NY), Jhamel Cohen (Brooklyn, NY), Sterling Baker Jr. (Brooklyn, NY) and Adrian Young (Newburgh, NY) did so as well. Moore posted a 52.37 in the 400-meter (eighth), Manda posted a 2:06.76 (10^th) in the 800-meter, Clayton posted a 17:22.12 (second) in the 5,000-meter and Rideau posted a 1:04.41 (10th) in the 400-meter hurdles. Then the combination of Cohen, Baker Jr. Rideau and Simmons posted a 44.63 (eighth) in the 4x100-meter relay and Rideau, Moore, Simmons and Young posted a 3:40.31 (seventh) in the 4x400-meter relay.

Posting top 10 times for the women were: Gabrielle Bridgewater (Fort Plain, NY), Katicia Sakona (Corning, NY), Lindsay Therrien (Johnstown, NY), Lu-Aisha Charles (Middletown, NY), Tarynna Fitzpatrick (Sharon Springs, NY) and Shannon Shirley (Bronx, NY). Bridgewater posted a 1:13.66 (fourth) in the 400-meter hurdles and 8.94 m (fifth) in the shot put. Sakona leaped 4.60m (second) in the long jump and 9.05m (first) in the triple jump. Therrien leaped 3.98m (seventh) and Charles leaped 3.71m (10^th) in the long jump and Fitzpatrick threw the javelin 11.56m (10^th).

The final top 10 time came from the 4x400-meter relay where Bridgewater, Shirley, Therrien and Charles posted a 4:56.59. It was the sixth best time in the nation in that event.

Herkimer’s next track meet is on a weekday. They’ll travel to SUNY Delhi for a Wednesday meet on April 6^th. Competition is slated to begin at 3 p.m. 

Men:

100-meter Dash (2^nd 11.18, 13^th 12.03, 16^th 12.14, 17^th 12.21, 19^th 12.23, 23^rd 12.60, 24^th 12.67, 25^th 12.79, 26^th 12.90, 27^th 12.92, 28^th 13.60, 29^th 14.39) Simmons, Rideau, Hartwell, Cohen, Baker Jr., Strickland Jr., Bryant, Clouthier, Garcia, Young, Encarnacion, Moreno)

200-meter Dash (8^th 24.02, 10^th 24.42, 11^th 24.54, 13^th 24.84, 15^th 24.95, 18^th 25.44, 19^th 26.19, 20^th 26.52, 21^st 26.84, 22^nd 27.18, 23^rd 29.00, 24^th 30.72) Baker Jr., Young, Cohen, Hartwell, Moore, Strickland Jr., Garcia, Parker, Gibbs Jr., Clouthier, Moreno, Arnold

400-meter Dash (5^th 52.37, 7^th 53.19, 11^th 54.72, 12^th 54.75, 15^th 59.25, 16^th 1:05.75) Moore, Manda, Young, Simmons, Parker, Arnold

800-meter Run (6^th 2:06.76, 10^th 2:15.03, 14^th 2:32.75) Manda, Clayton, Parker

5000-meter Run (7^th 17:22.12) Clayton

110-meter Hurdles (4^th 1:04.41, 5^th 1:10.34, 6^th 1:11.22) Rideau, Gibbs Jr., Cohen

4x100-meter Relay (5^th 44.63, 6^th 48.28) Cohen, Baker Jr., Rideau, Simmons; Clouthier, Strickland Jr., Garcia, Young

4x400-meter Relay (3^rd 3:40.31, 6^th 3:47.96) Rideau, Moore, Simmons, Young; Cohen, Manda, Clayton, Baker Jr.

High Jump (3^rd 1.67m, 4^th 1.67m) Simmons, Bryant

Long Jump (2^nd 6.28m, 4^th 5.60m, 6^th 5.35m, 10^th 4.81m, 11^th 4.74m, 12^th 4.40m) Simmons, Rideau, Cohen, Garcia, Strickland Jr., Gibbs Jr.

Triple Jump (1^st 13.11m) Simmons

Shot Put (11^th 7.09m) Bledsoe

Discus Throw (15^th 16.97m) Bledsoe

Women:

100-meter Dash (5^th 14.50, 6^th 14.51, 9^th 15.74) Murray, Bridgewater, Sakona

200-meter Dash (3^rd 28.78, 6^th 30.70) Shirley, Murray

400-meter Dash (3^rd 1:06.52) Shirley

100-meter Hurdles (3^rd 18.98) Therrien

400-meter Hurdles (4^th 1:13.66) Bridgewater

4x400-meter Relay (5^th 4:56.59) Bridgewater, Shirley, Therrien, Charles

High Jump (4^th 1.42m)

Long Jump (2^nd 4.60m, 6^th 3.98m, 7^th 3.71m) Sakona, Therrien, Charles

Triple Jump (3^rd 9.05m) Sakona

Shot Put (7^th 8.94m, 8^th 8.09m, 10^th 6.48m, 11^th 6.17m) Bridgewater, Murray, Charles, Fitzpatrick

Discus Throw (8^th 14.61m) Fitzpatrick

Javelin Throw (8^th 11.56m, 9^th 10.47m) Fitzpatrick, Charles

-Giorgio Varlaro