CANTON, NY - For the first time in a decade, a new name stands atop Utica's leaderboard in the women's 100 meters. Mackenzie Mix shattered a 10 year old school record with her winning time of 12.36 seconds in her collegiate finals debut at 100 meters to headline the day's performances as the Pioneers opened outdoor track and field competition at the SLU Ice Breaker Open.
Both teams placed second in their respective team competitions.
In the jumps, Chase Pecoraro (Medina, NY/Medina) and Ka'sean Watlington were sublime in their returns to the active roster as dual winners. Pecoraro won the pole vault at a mark of 4.20 meters, then led the way on a top three sweep in the men's high jump. Pecoraro won the high jump by clearing a meet record 1.87 meters. Antonio Reyes (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) was second at 1.72 meters, and Justin Valentin (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) was third at 1.67.
Pecoraro also excelled in the Javelin throw with an season-opening mark of 50.62 meters to place second.
Watlington produced a horizontal jumps double that makes it extremely clear that he's back in business for 2022. Competing in his first events as a Pioneer since the 2019-20 indoor season, Watlington bounded to a 14.42 meter leap in the triple jump, and added on a 6.67 meter long jump. Both jumps were good enough to win while also achieving AARTFC qualifier status and meet records.
In the throws, Utica took the top four spots in the men's hammer throw. Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) led the way with a 41.76 meter heave. Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) was second in 40.25 meters, Mark Brown (Warwick, RI/Pilgrim) was third at a mark of 38.46 meters, and Brady VanAernam (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) fourth in 36.56 meters. Kelly's performance hit the standard for the AARTFC meet later this season. The good times continued in the men's rotational throwing events with a great outing in the discus. Kelly doubled up on AARTFC qualification with a 42.87 meter discus toss to place second. Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) was third at a distance of 39.98 meters, and VanAernam was fourth. In the men's shot put, Logan was the winner at 15 meters even to punch his ticket to the AARTFC Championships, while Arthur Bittel (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was second at 13.09 meters.
Jane Fahy was the top women's throws performer with a meet record performance of 12.19 meters in the women's shot put. Gabrielle DeSanctis was the runner-up in the hammer throw with a season-opening toss of 39.27 to place just ahead of Skyler Whorf in third.
In women's track action, the 4x100 meter relay team of Ayjah Clarke, Mackenzie Mix, Laura Meade, and Alexis Cole punched Utica's ticket to the AARTFC meet in that event with a 50.76 second performance. Sophie Henderson was a winner in the 100 hurdles with a 16.33 second clocking. Meade turned in a 27.08 second performance to win the 200 meters. Jade Dening was fourth in the 1500 meters with a collegiate outdoor debut time of 5:04.68 to place fourth. In the 800 meters, Alexis Cole (2:34.5) and Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez (2:35.47) were third and fourth.
Brady Szekeres (Accord, NY/Rondout Valley) was the top men's 110 hurdler for Utica with a fourth place finish in 17.09 seconds. In the men's 100 meters, Josh Washington (11.03) and Michael Campbell (11.16) were second and third. Quallan Brown (24.24 seconds) led Utica in the men's 200 meters with a fourth place finish. The men's 4x100 meter relay team of Brown, Widmarc Thomas (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley), Nyles Rogers (Suffern, NY/Suffern), and Shane Tinney (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) was second in 46.11 seconds.
The Pioneers will compete at Hamilton College on Saturday, April 2nd.
