CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Hudson Valley's student-athlete Mercedes Planavsky(Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) claimed the 2019 NJCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:22) event today during day one of the NJCAA Track and Field Championships in Utica, NY. Mercedes joins Elijah Washington (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa), who claimed the national title in the hammer throw earlier in the meet.

Planavsky is coming off a dominant performance at NJCAA Region 3 championship on April 27-28 as she was named the Region 3 Female Track Athlete of the Meet. Mercedes won all of the distance events, including the 800-meter run (2:36.69), 1,500-meter run (5:30.53), 5,000-meter run (19:59.41), 10,000-meter run (40:44.13) and the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:50.79). 

She was also a member of the Vikings 4x400 meter relay championship team that won the event with a final time of 4:41.68. The 4x400 team consisted of Martinez, White, Planavsky and Clarke. 

Mercedes was honored as the USTFCCCA National Female Athlete of the Week as announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association last week. 

The Vikings outdoor track and field program continues to compete at the National Meet until Saturday, May 11 at Mohawk Valley on May 11-12 in Utica, NY.