The Geneseo indoor track team performed well last weekend at the SUNYAC championship, as the men's team came in second place and the women's team finished third.
The good finishes came despite both teams entering the meet as heavy underdogs with injuries on both teams.
The women's title came down to the final event, the triple jump, with Geneseo, Brockport and Buffalo State all tied. Geneseo had three of the top eight distances with season-bests by sophomore Brittany Frankel, junior Alice Buskus and sophomore Kristin Shumway. Unfortunately, those distances were only good enough to give Geneseo third place on the event.
Buffalo State had three of the top six finishers to come away with first place. Brockport's Shannon O'Keeffe came in first to put Brockport ahead of Geneseo for second. Head coach David Prevosti said that entering the event, Geneseo "looked ready for the moment," but lost by 10 points to Buffalo State despite their great performances.
The men's title was close as well though not as intense as the women's final events. The Knights came in second place, losing by 12 points to Cortland. "Any of the top four teams could have won," said Prevosti.
Sophomore Niko Brown said that, "everybody really stepped up," to make the competition close after being regarded as underdogs, but also added that it was "disappointing not to win it all."
Brown set a flat track personal record in the 400-meter dash and helped Geneseo earn big points in the 4x400-meter relay.
According to Brown, unity played a big factor in the Blue Knights' positive outcome. He said there was "a lot of team spirit, everybody cheering each other on."
"They are a team. They push and pull for each other all the time," Prevosti said, adding that he believed the enthusiasm the team showed helped them to their top finishes.
"Overall, [it was] a great championship," Prevosti said. "Everybody really stepped up and gave it their best shot." Prevosti said he thinks Geneseo can build on last weekend's performance and has high expectations for the outdoor season.
The SUNYAC championships marked the end of the season for most of the indoor track team, though some of the athletes have qualified for the ECAC championships this weekend in Boston and hope to move on from there to the national championships.