ROCHESTER, NY – The Alfred University men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams opened their 2010 seasons Saturday at the RIT Invitational meet. There were no team scores, but several AU athletes turned in solid performances.

Sophomore Richard Scott (Eden, NY/Eden) led the AU men with a second-place finish in the 400-meter run (51.71 seconds) and a seventh in the long jump (6.53 meters). Senior Lee Consolo (Pleasantville, NY/Pleasantville) was second in the 500 meters (1:08.69), senior Travis Cox (Ashaway, RI/Westerly) was third in the weight throw (14.91 meters), and junior Shawn Ross (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) was third in the shot put (13.90 meters).

Other top performers for the AU men were freshman Chris Lopez (Rochester, NY/Pittsford-Sutherland), seventh in the triple jump (12.51 meters), 10th in the long jump (6.20 meters), and 16th in the 55-meter dash (6.91 seconds); senior Ned Lessig Reading, PA/Wilson), ninth in the 55-meter hurdles (8.64 seconds); junior Markenson Joseph (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth Regional), ninth in the weight throw (12.97 meters); sophomore Justin Shardlow (Alfred Station, NY/Alfred-Almond), 12th in the long jump (6.07 meters); senior Matt Phillips (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane), 12th in the 800 meters (2:06.01); senior Corey Smith (Albion, NY/Albion), 15th in the 5,000-meter run (18:23.96); and freshman Jeremy Weaver (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic), 13th in the 200-meter run (24.73 seconds).

Sophomore Anne Mills (Scarborough, ME/Scarborough) led the Alfred women’s team, taking seventh in the 55-meter hurdles (9.67 seconds) and also placing 11th in the 55-meter dash (7.93 seconds).

Other AU women turning in top-10 performances were: junior Melissa Haahr (Owego, NY/Tioga), fifth in the 1,000-meter run (3:25.57); senior Rachel Gaylord (Elmira, NY/Horseheads), seventh in the 1,000-meter run (3:33.14); freshman Amy Morrissey (Hornell, NY/Hornell), ninth in the 1,000-meter run (3:41.20); sophomore Elisabeth Phillips-Jones (Watertown, MA/Watertown), ninth in the 3,000-meter run (11:41.00); and freshman Kelly-Jo Beck (York, NY/York), eighth in the shot put (10.20 meters).

Senior Megan Crimmins (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads) was 12th min the 5,000 meters (20:33.27) and 14th in the 3,000-meters (12:01.82); junior Emily Merkey (Walworth, NY/Wayne) was 13th in the weight throw (10.39 meters); and freshman Emily Moorehead (Waverly, NY/Waverly) was 15th in the weight throw (10.10 meters) and 16th in the shot put (8.84 meters). Phillips-Jones took 13th in the 5,000 meters (20:33.00).

AU is in action next on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Great Dane Classic in Manhattan, New York City.