SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Jennifer 'Finnegan' Patruno '90'

Jennifer Finnegan of Sidney, New York competed for Sidney Central School in both Cross-Country and Track and Field from 1985 to 1990.

Jennifer first ran at the Varsity level as an 8th grader on her father's Cross-Country team after having run Cross-Country at the junior high level for one year. Her Cross-Country days start back as a 4th grader when she served as the Varsity's "go-fer". She carried the sweat bag and medical kit from every starting line to each and every finish line for 3 years.

She lettered in Varsity Cross-Country in 1985, '86, '87, '88 and '89 while lettering in Indoor Track in 1989 and 1990. She lettered in Outdoor Track from 1986 through 1990. As a Cross-Country runner she never finished lower than 4th while competing at the New York State Public High School Cross-Country Championship in Class C. As a 9th grader, she placed 4th at Elma Meadows in 1986. As a 10th grader she placed 1st at New York Tech on Long Island in 1987. As a Junior she placed 4th at Lake Placid in 1988. Her crowning moment was when she won the State Championship as a Senior where she had the fastest time of the day among all competitors at Bowdoin Park in 1989. As a Sidney Senior she won 11 individual titles and had not lost a race until the Federation Race in mid November of 1989.

Jennifer found herself on the First Team All State Cross-Country by the New York Sport Writers Association in December of 1989.

Jennifer began running Varsity Track for renowned track coach, Doug Quinney, as an 8th grader. As an 8th grader she had run the 800 meters in a time of 2:23 and 4:48 in the 1500 meters and begun blossoming from there. As a Freshman, Jennifer had captured the Section IV title in the 800 meters and a 2nd in the 1500 meters. As a Sophomore, Jennifer developed a stress fracture of the tibia and went without any running during the Spring season of 1998. As a Junior, Jennifer stopped playing basketball during the Winter and concentrated on her running. That year, as a Junior, Jennifer established a Section IV record of 4"47.28 but that was short lived as she attained a Section IV record of 4:35.2 for the 1500 meters while she was running to a mile time of 4:55.50 at the Pathmark National High School Indoor Championship at the Carrier Dome in 1990. Her national time established her as the leader on the 1990 Prep Women's List for the Mile and 1500 meters. As a Senior, Jennifer ran at the famed Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden where she finished 6th in a great field of milers. Jennifer captured a New York State title that Winter in the 1000 meters in a time of 2:54.72.

In March of 1990 Jennifer announced her decision to run for Wake Forest University of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Jennifer improved upon her times after the Winter Indoor Track season of 1990. After being named the top female athlete at the Waite Invitational in Elmira during the first big meet of the 1990 season, Jennifer found little competition inside Section IV. Her biggest challenge came in May of 1990 at the Johnstown Invitational where she would do battle with another top runner in both the 800 meters and 1500 meters by the name of Staci Snider. Jennifer won both races with times of 2:13.6 and 4:27.0 respectively. The 4:27.0 set a national standard at the time. In this race Jennifer had dropped her personal best by 8 seconds. At the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championship, Jennifer won the state title with a time of 4:27.4. The same day she placed 2nd in the 800 meters with a 2:13.25. Jennifer ran her last scholastic race in Elmhurst, Illinois at the famed Keebler Invitational. She placed 2nd to an Englishwoman. Her mile time was 4:55.0. She was named to the H.S. All American Track and Field Team.

The crowing moment in her High School career was when Jennifer was named the 1990 Gatorade Circle of Champions New York State Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Jennifer was also named as Sidney Central School's Scholar-Athlete as a graduating senior.

Jennifer went off to Wake Forest University in North Carolina to compete among some fine Cross-Country and Track and Field athletes. Jennifer improved her times throughout college despite injury setbacks at times. Her best Cross-Country race was when she placed 3rd at the 1994 Atlantic Coast Cross-Country Championship.

Jennifer's exploits on the track continued in the middle distances. She won the 1995 Atlantic Coast Conference Track and Field 1500-meter title as a college Senior. Jennifer became a 2 time NCAA Division I Track and Field athlete in the 1500 meters. Her 4th place finish at the 1995 NCAA Track and Field Championship in a time of 4:17.52 was one of her finest runs. Her personal best in the 1500 meters took place at the Stamford Last Chance Meet in 1995 as she attained her personal best of 4:16.75. Jennifer finished her collegiate running career with a 2:08.7 as a personal best in the 800 meters but did run a 2:06.8 leg at the Penn Relays while competing on the 2nd place team of the 4x800m Relay Team.