The Geneseo men's and women's track and field teams traveled to Buffalo on Saturday for the University of Buffalo Open, with both squads bringing home second-place finishes.
Despite boasting only one winner, graduate student Chris Popovici with a 4:02.15 in the 1,500 meters, the men's team rode a remarkable seven runner-up showings to a respectable 182 points. Those taking second place included seniors Ross Hunkovic and Joe Goodspeed, junior Nate Lockett, sophomores Craig Harlacher, Will Haskell and Kevin O'Connell, and freshman Bobby Henchen. Goodspeed earned an NCAA provisional qualifying height by clearing 2.05 meters in the high jump.
Meanwhile, the women's team was busy en route to a second place finish of their own. The Lady Knights, who totaled 186 points, were helped by wins from junior Meghan Nolan and sophomores Liz Montgomery and Lisa Halloran. Nolan captured the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:45.33; Montgomery took the 1,500 meters in 4:54.36; and Halloran earned the win in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 12:11.47. Contributing with second place results were junior Amanda Haney, who won the 110 hurdles in 16.60 and reached 1.70 meters in the high jump, freshman Brittany Frankel, who finished the 400 meters in 1:01.11 and cleared 10.70 meters in the triple jump, and sophomore Lauren Mesi, who completed the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 12:23.62.
Nolan said that the team was not concerned with its point total or its overall finish, saying the event was "really a tune-up for SUNYACs this weekend. Many athletes were running different events than their normal ones." While Nolan and her teammates view Cortland as the favorite in the conference championships, she knows that her squad cannot be counted out, remarking that the team has "a great potential for victory." The SUNYAC championships will be held this Friday and Saturday in Fredonia.