Looking to follow up on an outstanding and record-breaking indoor season, Stony Brook’s men’s and women’s track ‘ field teams were ready to begin their outdoor seasons this weekend.
Their first meet was the Monmouth Invitational in West Long Branch, N.J. on Saturday. Stony Brook enters the outdoor season having been picked eighth in the preseason America East coaches’ poll, not a slap in the face considering their tough competition but a ranking that will no doubt leave the runners with a determination to climb the ladder to first. That process began Saturday. The Seawolves placed three top finishes on the day.
Brandon Leung, a junior from Rego Park, started the Seawolves off strong, crossing first in the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 1:59.39. Shamell Forbes, a sophomore from Springfield Gardens, NY, was the next Seawolf to cross in that race, placing seventh with time of 2:01.91. Leung’s first place finish was out of 41 total runners and provided a thrilling race that was decided by less than one second. A sophomore from Bergen Community College finished at 2:00.14, giving Leung a run for his money but provided the young junior with a first place finish nonetheless.
Sophomore Carolina Cortes also placed first in her event, the 1500-meter run. Cortes, a sophomore from Woodmere, NY, beat out fellow Seawolf Kristal Conklin, a freshman from Middletown, NY, with a time of 4:48.78. Conklin placed second behind Cortes in this seemingly two-horse race with a time of 4:51.76. Two more runners from Stony Brook placed in the top ten, swinging this decided event in the favor of Stony Brook. Junior Jacquie Kehoe, from Katonah, NY, placed fifth with a time of 4:56.70 and sophomore Leanne Skrabacz, from West Seneca, NY, rounded out the top four from Stony Brook, finishing eighth with a time of 5:02.94.
Finishing out the three top finishers on the day was the women’s 1600-meter sprint medley, which placed first out of nine teams, placing with a time of 4:16.28. The squad consisted of Cortes, senior Rosanna Peralta from Port Jefferson Station, and freshmen Christina Johnson from Elmont, NY, and Justine Noel, from Brooklyn, NY. Noel had herself a nice day as well, placing fifth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.26, just three seconds behind the first place finisher from Monmouth.
The next meet for the team will be Saturday, April 4th in Princeton, New Jersey where the Seawolves will compete in the Sam Howell Invitational.
