Ithaca Women’s Track & Field Ranked Fifth in USTFCCCA Preseason Poll
USTFCCCA RELEASE
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Ithaca College women's track & field program will officially begin the indoor season as the No. 5 team in the nation, according to the top 25 preseason poll released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on January 10. This is the highest ranking that Ithaca has ever reached during the indoor season since the USTFCCCA released top 25 polls dating back to 2010.
Ithaca, which has competed once in 2016 at the Greg Page Relays, finished 10th in the national rankings last winter after a 13th place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships. The Bombers return three All-Americans from a year ago – seniors
Katherine Pitman and
Brandy Smith, and junior
Taryn Cordani.
Cordani placed eighth in the 3,000-meter run to become Ithaca's 100th All-American in program history. Pitman, who was a national champion in the pole vault at the outdoor champions in May, finished as the runner-up at last year's indoor national meet. Smith, a two-time outdoor national champion in the discus, placed third in the weight throw last March.
All three student-athletes hold current school records in their respective events.
Eight other Bombers that will be in competition this winter have NCAA championship experience (cross country or track & field) – graduate student
Michaela Cioffredi, senior
Natalie Meyer, juniors
Sierra Grazia,
Denise Ibarra and
Grace Ryan, sophomore
Emilie Mertz and freshman
Annie Morrison.
Ithaca returns to action on Friday, January 13 at the Ramapo Invitational, which will be held at the NYC Armory. The Bombers will also be represented at the RIT Invitational on Saturday in Rochester.