UTICA, NY - It was a landmark day in the throws for the Utica College track and field teams. Jane Fahy set a new Utica College indoor record in the women's shot put, while Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) tossed one of the nation's best early season marks in the men's shot put to highlight the day as the Pioneers hosted the Utica College Winter Opener at the Todd and Jennifer Hutton Sports and Recreation Dome on Saturday.
The UC men placed third in the team competition with 75.5 points, while the UC women were fifth with 63 points.
On her third throw of the day, Fahy put out a 12.44 meter mark to break her own indoor school record, which previously stood at 12.33 meters. That throw was good enough for a convincing first place finish. Logan helmed up a 1-2 finish in the men's shot for UC between himself and defending E8 indoor champion Arthur Bittel (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool). Logan hoisted a 15.74 meter toss on his second attempt in the men's shot put for a new collegiate personal best. It was the fourth-best mark in program history, and is also the current fourth-best mark in the nation this season. Bittel came in second with a performance of 13.46 meters.
Elsewhere in the throws, Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was second in the men's weight throw at a distance of 14.48 meters, with Logan sixth in 13.10 meters. Gabrielle DeSanctis was fourth in the women's weight throw with a 13.61 meter performance.
Laura Meade had a well-rounded day on the track and in the field. She placed second and was the top Division III competitor in her signature event, the triple jump, in 10.47 meters. She was also seventh in the 60 meter dash with an 8.43 second finals clocking.
Meade combined with Mackenzie Mix, Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez, and Ayjah Clarke to win the 4x200 relay in 1:53.09.
The Pioneers put two athletes each in the points for the men's and women's high jump events. In the women's event, Makiya Donnelly was third in 1.51 meters, while Amina Sinclair was fifth in 1.46 meters. In the men's event, Andrew Wieder (Clinton, NY/Clinton) was fourth at a 1.74 meter clearance, and Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) placed sixth after getting over a 1.69 meter bar.
Wieder had a busy day as he competed in four unique disciplines in preparation for his multi-event schedule. In addition to his high jump performance, his day included a personal best of 10.12 meters in the shot put.
In the men's triple jump, Josh Washington and Sei Sei (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) produced a double points finish. Washington was fifth in 12.31 meters, and Sei was sixth as he bounded out to 12.10 meters. The pair combined to snag nine team points in that event. Unattached athlete Ka'Sean Watlington (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Bluepoint) won with a 13.80 meter mark as he prepares to re-join the Pioneers for the upcoming outdoor season.
The long sprints had a productive day on both sides. In the women's events, Mix put together a 1:03.38 in her first collegiate 400 meters appearance to place fourth. In the women's 500, Cruz-Bermudez was second in 1:25.37, and Alexis Cole was fourth in 1:29.57. In the men's 500, Jaevon Ardrey (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) was the runner-up with a time of 1:10.27, and Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park) ran to a time of 1:11.68 to place fourth.
The longest event UC competed in on Saturday was the 1,000 meters, with the squad not contesting the one mile, 3,000 meters, or 5,000 meters. Kristin Daino was Utica's top women's 1,000 competitor with an eighth place finish and a time of 3:44.08. Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) held it down for the men's squad with a twelfth place finish and a time of 2:52.
The Pioneers will be back in action at Hamilton College on Friday.
