ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany track & field program has announced eight student-athletes, four men and four women, as team captains ahead of the upcoming 2019-20 indoor and outdoor seasons.
Just one of the eight captains returns for another year of service, but one other served as an interim captain during the cross country season before the team conducted its official vote on Thursday.
Shelby Bigsby, a sophomore thrower from Monclair, N.J., was selected as team captain for the first time, and is one of the best young throwers in program history. After winning the shot put and finishing second in the weight throw at her first America East Indoor Championships, Bigsby posted matching third-place finishes in the shot put and the hammer throw at the America East Outdoor Championships. Later, Bigsby became just the second woman in program history to record a mark over 50' in the shot put, throwing 50-06.25 at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships.
Lynn Gbadamosi, a sophomore thrower from North Babylon, N.Y., was selected as team captain for the first time. During her freshman season, Gbadamosi recorded personal bests of 37-00.25 (SP), 51-07.75 (WT), and 136.08.00 (HT).
Asia Jinks, a junior hurdler from Hempstead, N.Y., was selected as a team captain for the first time. Last season, Jinks finished third or better in four events between America East Indoor and Outdoor Championships, including victories on the indoor 4x400m relay and in the outdoor 400m hurdles, successfully defending her title in the latter event. Jinks holds personal bests of 55.31 (400m), 13.96 (100m HH), and 59.31 (400m IH).
Hannah Reinhardt, a senior distance runner from Clarence, N.Y. is the only repeat captain this season, serving her first year in 2018-19. Reinhardt is one of the most decorated distance runners in program history, repeating as America East individual cross country champion this year, setting school records at both 5K and 6K, becoming the first Great Dane to win NCAA XC Regional championships, and qualifying for NCAA XC Championships.
Myles Banfield, a graduate student and sprinter from Markham, Canada, was selected as team captain for the first time. He holds personal bests of 21.76 (200m), 33.62 (300m), and 46.83 (400m) and is one of just a handful of Great Danes to hold an NCAA #1 ranking in an event (300m) during a season. Banfield has won three America East 400m titles.
Adrian Mitchell, a senior javelin thrower from Kingston, Jamaica, served as interim captain this year during the cross country season. Mitchell returns to action following a year away from the sport due to injury. He ranks second in program history in his signature event, the javelin, with a personal-best mark of 227-02.00.
Bryan Nicholson, a junior thrower from Elmont, N.Y., was elected as team captain for the first time. In his first two years at UAlbany, Nicholson has recorded personal bests of 51-03.75 in the shot put, 168-02.00 in the discus, and 125-03.00 in the hammer. Nicholson is the reigning America East men's discus champion.
Charlie Ragone, a senior distance runner from Niskayuna, N.Y., was the men's top runner during the cross country season. This year, Ragone set new personal-bests of 24:29.0 for 8K and 30:06.2 for 10K, and won the Dr. Kevin Williams men's championship race at the R.K. Munsey UAlbany XC Invitational.
Last season, UAlbany won five of six possible conference team titles, highlighted by the women completing the first women's Triple Crown in America East history, where the same team wins the cross country, indoor, and outdoor team titles in the same academic year.
