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ESF Women’s Track Team Takes First at USCAA National Championship
INDIANA, PA. – April 25, 2026 – The ESF Mighty Oaks women’s track team three-peated at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championships April 24-25 in Pennsylvania.
ESF won with 182 points, coming in ahead of Albany Pharmacy with 148 points. The Mighty Oaks had multiple individual national champions and one relay win. Margaret Ryan, 1500/800, Grace Tanski, 3000m steeplechase, Maura O’Brien 5K/10K and Gabrielle McKenzie, 400m hurdles. The relay team of Ryan, Marissa Civatte, Sophia DePierro and McKenzie won the 4x400 meter relay.
The men’s team secured a second place finish with 85 points, putting them six points ahead of third place finisher Florida National. United States Sports University won the national title with 207 points. Sean White achieved a national championship in the 3000m Steeplechase. Aidan Watts was the national runner up in the 1500m and 5K.
"Our women’s team achieved the ultimate goal, and we did this with zero field events,” said ESF Coach Mike Melfi. “The men’s team had some injuries and last-minute illness that definitely lost us some points but they battled hard and stepped it up big time.”
Despite weather that changed from “wicked hot” to all-day rain over the course of two days, the women’s team persevered. “We pushed through because of how close this team is. We were the loudest team out there cheering each other on and that made a huge difference,” said sophomore Grace Tanski.
Full meet results are available here: https://live.gingerbreadtiming.com/meets/69962
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.