On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, Abigale Laney announced her commitment to Ithaca College for track and field. The hurdler joined the team her sophomore year and had a rather unique reason behind it.
“I started because I lost a bet to [security guard and coach] Rich [McGriff] my freshman year,” Laney told The Fanscotian. “As a punishment, I had to try track out.”
Founded in 1892 as the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, the private institution is located in Ithaca, New York. It became Ithaca College in 1931, focusing on liberal arts. The Bombers are members of the Liberty League and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in the NCAA at the Division III level.
“It’s a beautiful school. My cousin plays baseball there, so I had already been hearing such great things about it,” Laney said. “The minute I walked on campus, I looked at my mom, and I’m like yeah, I [have to] stay here.”
Ithaca’s women’s track and field program has an illustrious history, emerging as a top national contender in the late 1900s after the passage of Title IX, which influenced an increase in funding and advocacy for women in sports. Under head coach Jim Nichols, who coached the team from 1986 to 1993 and 1998 to 2000, the team won several conference titles. Recently, the program has continued their dominance with alum Jennifer Potter under the helm, earning consecutive league titles.
“I [want] to get [personal records], but mostly, make new bonds with new team members,” Laney said. “The coach calls herself a blunt cheerleader, so I’m very excited to see how her coaching style [and] all the technology and resources that we get as athletes progress me forward.”
As a hurdler, Laney has to adjust to different race lengths, competing in 55, 100 and 400 meters. The senior posted her season-best time in the 400H with a time of 1:15.76 at the Colts Neck Invitational Meet on Saturday, April 18, placing 17 out of 35 competitors. Laney also ran her personal-best in the outdoor 100H in the same morning at 18.08 seconds. Reflecting on her time as a Raider, Laney feels she’s blossomed not only athletically but as an individual too.
“[Joining track] was a very important thing for me to do and a way to find some of my best friends,” Laney said. “It’s built up my confidence and my self identity in a way that I don’t think would have [been] the same.”
With years of experience, Richard McGriff and Jeffrey Koegel have passed along both coaching and life advice to SPF athletes. Laney has grown tightly with them, treasuring the trust and effort they’ve put into helping her improve.
“Rich is my best friend. He’s like a dad to me,” Laney said. “[He] and Mr. Koegel believed in me in a way that I didn’t necessarily understand at first. Now as a senior who’s expected to be performing, I know what they believe that I can do is possible.”
For the remaining weeks left in the spring season, Laney has her eyes set on contributing to the team’s standing and close her career on a high note.
“I intend to qualify past sectionals into groups, get some good points for [SPF] in the County Conference meet and counties individuals and get as many PRs and stats up as I can,” Laney said.
