Lakers Build Momentum at SUNY Cortland Meet

Cortland, N.Y. - The Lakers continued their impressive outdoor season with another strong meet, highlighted by standout individual efforts and continued progress across multiple events. Leading the way was Ella Simson (Brighton, N.Y. / Brighton High School), who punched her ticket to nationals with a qualifying mark in the long jump, soaring to a distance of 4.81 meters.

On the track, Ruairi Steverson (Manchester, N.Y. / Manchester-Shortsville) delivered one of the most impressive performances of the day, dropping a remarkable 20 seconds in the 1500m to finish in 4:24.47. Megan McGregor (Marion, N.Y. / Marion Jr. Sr. High School) also continued her strong stretch in the same event, recording her second consecutive personal record and showing steady improvement as the season progresses.

Several Lakers are closing in on national qualifying standards, signaling even bigger performances on the horizon. Xxavier Benjamin (Donaldsonville, LA. / Donaldsonville) made strides in the long jump, while Kyle Brooks (Miami, FL. / Palm Bay) continues to improve in the high jump. The men's 4x100 relay team of Kyle Brooks, Xxavier Benjamin, Ruairi Steverson, and Tim Trost (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) also showed strong potential as they push toward a qualifying mark.

In the field events, Hanna Grace Check (Victor, N.Y./Victor) once again delivered a consistent and powerful showing in the throws, continuing to be a key contributor for the Lakers.

With momentum building and multiple athletes trending upward, the Lakers are positioning themselves for a strong push as they head deeper into the season.

The Lakers will head to Rochester this weekend to compete in the 2026 Cardinal Classic, hosted by St. John Fisher University.