Collins sets new school 5K record
Fredonia fifth-year senior Kyle Collins (Suffern) broke a 34-year-old school record Friday in the 5,000 meters while competing in the Bucknell Outdoor Track & Field Classic.
Previously No. 2 on Fredonia's Top 10 list, Collins ran 14:25.03 on Friday to eclipse Bernie Prabucki's 14:31.10 from April 1983. It was an improvement of over seven seconds by Collins, whose previous-best time was 14:32.57 last spring.
Collins finished sixth in the race and earned three team points. He was first among all NCAA Division III runners entered.
Fredonia runners set two other personal-bests Friday: sophomore Ethan Francis (Dunkirk) with a 15:12.50 in the 5,000 meters and junior Merlin Joseph Jr. (Binghamton) with 3:58.40 in the 1,500 meters.
Day 2 of the Bucknell meet Saturday includes Joseph, senior Pat Shenal (Henrietta), junior Mitch Loiacano (Lockport), and senior Bobby Cooper (Macedon) in the 800 meters; junior Chase Towse (East Northport) in the 400-meter hurdles; and junior Justyn Haines (Albion) and sophomore Trent Howard (Dewittville) in the pole vault.
