The Liberty League is celebrating its 25th anniversary during the 2019-2020 academic year. Originally founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) in 1995, the conference was renamed the Liberty League during the summer of 2004. Each Thursday throughout the year, the Liberty League will be celebrating its silver anniversary by recognizing outstanding teams and individuals from its rich 25-year history.
As all Liberty League indoor track and field teams return to action this weekend, the league recognizes Ithaca’s Taryn Cordani, one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in its 25-year history.
Over her career, Cordani was a four-time national champion and an 11-time All-American in cross country and track and field. Also an accomplished scholar-athlete, she was also named CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for cross country and track and field as a senior in 2018.
While Cordani only competed in the Liberty League for one year – Ithaca joined the league at the start of the 2017-18 academic year – her senior season was one of the best ever for a Liberty League track and field athlete. Cordani swept the league’s major awards, earning Runner of the Year in cross country and Track Athlete of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Her career-best times in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 as well as the outdoor 10,000 continue to stand as Liberty League all-time records.
After capturing three national championships in track and field as a junior – indoor 3,000 and 5,000; outdoor 10,000 – Cordani kicked off her senior season by winning the Liberty League cross country championship in 21:26.1, beating teammate Sierra Grazia (22:27.0) but just over a minute. Two weeks later, she captured the NCAA Atlantic Regional, earning USTFCCCA Atlantic Runner of the Year honors. Cordani then closed out her collegiate cross country career by finishing 14th at the NCAA Division III Championship – earning her third straight All-America honor. While at the NCAA Championship, she was also recognized as the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average at the NCAA finals site.
Cordani’s dominance continued into the indoor track and field season where she set Liberty League meet records in winning both the 3,000- and 5,000-meter races, earning Track Performer of the Meet honors. At the NCAA Championship, she added All-America recognition in both events, placing second in the 5,000 and sixth in the 3,000 while helping Ithaca to a seventh-place team finish. She was voted the Liberty League Track Performer of the Year as well as USTFCCCA Atlantic Track Athlete of the Year at the conclusion of the indoor season.
In her final outdoor season, Cordani was dominant in the 10,000-meter run, winning the Liberty League championship in the event by more than two minutes. At the NCAA Championship, she became the first-ever Ithaca student-athlete to win four individuals national titles by capturing the 10,000 for a second straight year. She was the first repeat champion in the event in 13 years. She was once again recognized by the Liberty League as Track Performer of the Year for the outdoor season.
Even as Cordani’s collegiate career ended, her recognition continued. Selected as a An Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Director of America (CoSIDA), Cordani graduated Summa Cum Laude and first in her class from Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. She was honored as the Liberty League’s female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2017-18, an all-sports award presented to a graduating senior who demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics and service/leadership. Cordani was chosen as the Liberty League’s nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
25th Anniversary Spotlight Series:
10/24/2019 - 1999 St. Lawrence University Men's Soccer
10/31/2019 - Sara Artus, Clarkson University, Volleyball (2008-2011)
11/7/2019 - Ali Marpet, Hobart College, Football (2011-2015)
11/14/2019 - 1997 William Smith College Field Hockey
11/21/2019 - Grant O'Connor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cross Country/Track & Field (2015-2019)
11/28/2019 - Andrew Franks, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Football (2011-2015)
12/5/2019 - 2013 William Smith College Women's Soccer
12/12/2019 - John Coleman, Clarkson University, Basketball and Baseball (2011-2015)
12/19/2019 - Nickie Griesemer, Ithaca College, Swimming & Diving (2013-2018)
1/2/2020 - Kelly Donnelly, Skidmore College, Women's Basketball (2014-2018)
1/9/2020 - Richie Bonney, Hobart College, Men's Basketball (2010-2014)