POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - Mark Valentino has been named the inaugural recipient of the Gregory J. Salamone Memorial Scholarship. Valentino, a graduate student and two-year captain of the men’s track team, will compete in his final seasons of eligibility during the 2015-2016 indoor track season and the 2016 outdoor track season. The scholarship is named in honor of Salamone, a former school-record-setting runner for the Red Foxes, who passed away on October 14, 2014, at the age of 35 after a brief and valiant battle with melanoma.
“We are pleased that Mark is the first recipient of this award,’’ Director of Track/Cross Country Pete Colaizzo said. “Like Greg, Mark is first and foremost a dedicated and strong student. And like Greg, he is a fierce competitor in an event that Greg thrived at and loved – the 3,000-meter steeplechase.’’
Valentino qualified for the USATF Junior Championships in the 3,000 steeplechase after his freshman year. He is the top individual finisher in school history in the event at the prestigious Penn Relays. In addition, Valentino is one of only 22 runners in school history to have broken the 15-minute barrier for the 5,000-meter run. Salamone is also on that elite list.
The Gregory J. Salamone Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of 2001 Marist College graduate Greg Salamone, a four-year varsity runner on the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams. Greg was an exemplary student-athlete, who at the time of his graduation held school records in the 10,000-meter run and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The scholarship will be awarded each year to a male track/cross country student-athlete who exemplifies all that Greg stood for: Excellence in academics, and excellence in long-distance events on the track and cross country running.
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