CORTLAND, N.Y. - The Oneonta women's track & field team earned individual champions in two events following the first day of the SUNYAC Championships on Friday. Senior Tarryn Herman (Franklinville, NY/Franklinville) won the hammer throw, while sophomore Jaiden Schrag (New Berlin, NY/Unadilla Valley Central) took first on the long jump to help the Red Dragons stand second overall with 49 points. Cortland currently leads the team scoring with 58 points.
Herman set a personal best of 52.26 meters to claim gold in the hammer throw, and the mark currently ties for 16th in NCAA Division III. Sophomore Mackenzie Lawrence (Berne, NY/Berne-Knox) added points by taking fourth at a personal best of 48.68 meters.
After finishing as the long jump conference runner-up a year ago, Schrag cleared 5.55 meters on her third attempt to claim gold. Junior Eko Dodd-Brown (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) took fourth (5.23m), and junior Nicolette DuBose (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) finished fifth (5.10m). Junior Carly Hein (Endwell, NY/Maine Endwell) set a personal best of 5.03 meters for ninth overall.
On the track, junior Gia Engel (Syosset, NY/Syosset) had an All-SUNYAC performance by crossing second overall at a personal best of 37:53.97. Freshman Jill Cinquina (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) finished with a 39:58.90 for fifth place.
Schrag took first in the 100-meter hurdle prelims at 15.02 to qualify for Saturday's finals. She was also second in the 400-meter hurdle prelims at 1:04.71. Dodd-Brown reached the finals with a sixth-place prelims performance at 15.97.
Two Red Dragons reached the 100-meter finals in freshman Olivia Nicholls (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) at fourth (12.52) and DuBose at sixth (12.70). Nicholls continued with a 25.12 in the 200-meter prelims for third overall. DuBose (25.73) was sixth, and freshman Gracie Gorrell (Columbus, NY/Unadilla Valley Central) was seventh (26.15) to reach tomorrow's finals.
Oneonta added two runners in the 800-meter finals as well. Freshman Alex Friedel (Irondequoit, NY/Irondequoit) took third in the prelims at 2:22.15, and sophomore Natalia Sweat (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh) finished fifth at 2:23.59.
In the pole vault, sophomore Ashley LaReddola (Coram, NY/Longwood) placed sixth overall at 2.90 meters.
Oneonta had two competitors in the heptathlon. Junior Jacey Hinds (Blossvale, NY/Camden Senior) is currently seventh with 1,892 points, while freshman Eva Croft (Sherrill, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill Central) is eighth at 1,854 points.
Oneonta continues the SUNYAC Championships on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m.
