Contact: David O Brian (dobrian@binghamton)

The Binghamton men s and women s track & field teams will head to the New York City Armory for the America East Indoor Championships this weekend. The two-day meet begins Sunday at 4 p.m.

The Bearcat women s team is seeking to follow up on an outstanding 2012-13 campaign. After placing a close third in the indoor meet last year, it recorded its first-ever runner-up performance at the America East Outdoor Championships. The men s team, meanwhile, was the runner up at the America East Indoor Meet last year but settled for fourth place at the outdoor championships.

The men s and women s squads are in great shape heading into the championship,” head coach Mike Thompson said. If everyone steps up we are capable of producing the program s best combined team finish since joining the America East Conference.”

WOMEN S OUTLOOK

Freshman Keishorea Armstrong and junior Ivory Taussig are the top entrees in the short sprints. Taussig was a top-eight finisher in both events last season. Senior Kathleen Klein was eighth in the 400 in 2013 while fellow senior Erika Kisel was the runner up in the 500. Sophomore Nina Sarmiento, meanwhile, placed eighth in the 500. Kisel, Klein, Sarmiento and freshman Sarah Osaheni form this year s 4x400 relay quartet. Osaheni and sophomore Kierra Arthur are both entered in the 60 Hurdles.

Once again, the jumps figured to be a major source of points on the women s side. Junior Alexx Baum, Armstrong, Arthur, Osaheni, junior Tonika Forrester and seniors Paige Ware and Sara Wickes are all entered in the triple jump. Last season, the Bearcats had five of the top eight finishers in that event. Baum, Ware, Wickes and Forrester will also compete in the long jump.

The Bearcats have the top three seeded entrees in the pole vault in freshman Sarah Haley, sophomore Christy DiMichele and senior Camille Ginyard. Sophomores Tori Shaffer and Jackie Crunden are Binghamton s top entrees in the high jump.

Alexis Hatcher, who was seventh in the 3,000 steeplechase at the conference outdoor meet last spring, is slated to run in the 1,000 this weekend. Sophomore Kenyon Merriwether, who was seventh in the hammer at last year s America East Outdoor Championships, is entered in the weight throw.

Wickes and senior Daniella Olusoga will compete in the pentathlon.

MEN S OUTLOOK

Junior Jesse Garn, who won the 1,500 at the America East Outdoor Meet last year, is the top seed in the 1,000. He returns to the New York City Armory one week after competing in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games. Senior Chris Fernandez and sophomore Adam McIe are the team s top entrees in the 800 while freshman Eric Holt is slated to run in the mile.

In the longer distance events, sophomore Ethan Hausamann is entered in the 3,000 while the 5,000 includes senior Ben Snodgrass and juniors Andrew Roache and Matt Johnson.

In the sprints, freshman Jon Alkins is the Bearcats top entry in the 60 and 200. Sophomore Temi Bajulaiye is the defending champion in the 500 and will be joined in that event by senior Zach Keefer and junior Josh Miller.

Sophomore Jon King was the runner up in the high jump last year. In the pole vault, freshmen Peter Fagan and Jonah Spaeth, as well as sophomore Joe Miceli, are all entered. Miceli tied for third at last year s indoor meet.

Juniors Eric Ziegler and Matt Traylor will compete in the long jump while sophomore Chris Ramsey is entered in the triple jump. All three of them were top-eight finishers at the 2013 indoor meet.

Senior Jacob Platel was third in the weight throw last year while junior Pat Heikklia was sixth in the shot put. Fellow junior Brandon Bordeau will also compete in the shot put.

Miceli is the top entry in the men s heptathlon.