In the midst of an overwhelming focus on one athlete, the rest of the Binghamton track team has been performing at a level higher than the program has seen. Several Bearcats have had spectacular seasons and they’ll be looking for more of the same this weekend at the America East Championships, hosted by the University of Maine.

At the AE indoor meet this season the men’s team placed a program-best second.

Freshman Christian Smith won the 500-meter dash at the indoor championships, setting a school record and IC4A-qualifying time of 1:04.81. He also is set to run in the 400. Classmate Cazal Arnett, who was named the America East Rookie of the Meet at the indoor meet, will compete in both the 200 and 400 — events that he easily won in February.

Junior Jimmy Massar, Arnett, Smith and freshman Andrew Haupt form the 1600-meter relay. While Juniors Dan Walker, Geoff Campbell, Massar and Arnett will run the 400-meter relay.

Sophomore Chris Gaube will lead a group of distance runners that were an integral part of the team’s success at the indoor championships. He will be competing in the 10,000-meter run with classmate Craig Coon, who placed seventh in the event at last season’s outdoor meet. Junior Adam Hill will be a crucial part of the race as well.

Freshmen Eric Van Ingen and Casey Quaglia will be competing in the 1,500-meter run. Quaglia is coming off a successful cross country season and an impressive fifth place finish in the mile at the indoor championships.

Last season, the women’s squad finished fifth out of nine teams. This season they look to improve upon that, and there is none better to lead that charge than the reigning America East Most Outstanding Track Athlete. Junior Kim Williams will run the 200-meter dash and will participate in both the 400 and the 1600-meter relays.

Leading the field athletes is senior Dayna Johnson, who is the defending champion in the triple jump from last year’s outdoor championships. She will be competing in the long jump. Classmate Keisha Short is also defending a title; she won the 400 at last season’s outdoor championships.

Freshman Ashley Horton tore up the scene during the cross country season, finishing first for the Bearcats in each of her races. She looks to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Classmate Shannon Finnegan will join her in the 1,500-meter run.

The two-day championship starts on Saturday with the Decathlon at 10 a.m. followed by the men’s 100-meter dash. The Bearcats will be looking to build on the success of their indoor seasons and the chance to compete in the championship races to follow.