A crew of Geneseo student-athletes are national champs and record-setters.
By Kris Dreessen
In March, the men’s indoor track and field team made Geneseo history with their wins at the NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships.
The men’s distance medley relay (with a time of 9:48.39) and the men’s 4x400m relay (3:11.64) won national champion titles and set new NCAA Championship meet records.
“I knew we had it in us, and it finally came together,” says co-captain Ezra Ruggles ’23. “We saw that we had a strong team competing for the title, and we obsessed during practices about what we had to do to make that dream come true. Every day felt like we were getting one step closer. And to say it finally happened is like the taste of cold water after a long, hot run. Refreshing, relieving, and sooooo satisfying.”
It’s the first time since 2006 that any team has won both relays at the NCAA Championships.
In addition to the relay wins, the men’s team took home the third place overall trophy. Ruggles placed third in the individual mile in 4:04.88 and broke the Geneseo record. The women’s distance medley relay team placed third overall and earned All-American status.
In total, the men and women earned 18 All-America honors, and each claimed their sixth consecutive SUNYAC championship.
“Being on a team is an incredible feeling,” says Ruggles, who says it helps him be consistent in his effort. “It means being a part of something bigger than yourself. It holds you more accountable and forces you to give your best. I love my team, and that fuels me to be the best athlete for them. I know they feel and do the same.”
Watch a track and field NCAA promo video.
