WESTFIELD, Mass. - The Utica University track and field programs turned in a full day of terrific performances across state lines at the Jerry Gravel Classic hosted by Westfield State University. Utica won the men's team competition with 152 points, and was second in the women's team competition with 100.5 points.
The short sprints made headlines with a pair of school records and set of program top fives leading the way.
Mackenzie Mix broke both of her recently set outdoor school records with a strong double at 100 and 200 meters. A time of 12.18 seconds was good enough to outduel teammate Laura Meade and win at 100 meters, and she bested her previous record by almost two tenths at 200 meters with a winning time of 25.26 seconds. Her latest 100 meter time is 22nd in the nation.
In the men's short sprints, Josh Washington and Daijon Richards (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon) had a tremendous outing at 100 meters. Both athletes set personal bests, and set the conference's two fastest 100 meter times of the season. Washington ran a 10.77 to place third and set the nation's 42nd fastest time, while Richards checked in with a time of 10.83 seconds. Those times are the third and fourth best times in program history.
In the women's 400 hurdles, Laura Meade came up just shy of the school record with her winning time of 1:06.77. That performance came in just her third collegiate competition in that event, and is the 64th fastest time in the country.
In the women's 100 hurdles, Sophie Henderson set a new personal best of 15.62 seconds for the E8's second-fastest time while placing sixth. She now ranks third in school history.
In the men's 110 hurdles, Brady Szekeres (Accord, NY/Rondout Valley) was third with a time of 16.91 seconds.
Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) recorded his best shot put throw of the outdoor season with a mark of 16.26 meters. That improves on his previous #2 mark in program history, and also puts Logan at the number five spot nationally while also having a close call with the outdoor school record. Arthur Bittel (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was third at 13.77 meters.
Jane Fahy won the women's shot put with a performance of 12.26 meters.
In the men's discus, Nathan Florian was the runner-up at a season best of 41.57 meters.
In the women's hammer throw, Gabrielle DeSanctis heaved a personal best toss of 40.85 meters. That mark is the #7 mark in program history and is the fourth-best mark in the Empire 8. In the men's hammer, a 3-4 finish led to the Empire 8's top two marks of the season. Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) hit a season-best mark of 45.22 meters ahead of teammate Brady VanAernam's (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) 44.41 meter personal best.
At 400 meters, Alexis Cole was second with a time of 1:01.44.
At 800 meters, a pair of runner-up finishes highlighted the competition. Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) ran his best time of the season of 2:03.63 to place second. Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez had a huge personal best time of 2:27.53 to finish as the runner-up in the women's competition, with Laura Levi placing sixth in 2:32.
At 1500 meters, Michael Roberts (Remsen, NY/Remsen) was second with a time of 4:27. Kristin Daino was ninth in women's competition with a time of 5:43.
In the jumps, Laura Meade was second at 10.54 meters in the triple jump. Jacob Pishkula (Clifton Park, NY/Shenedehowa) placed second in the men's event at 12.00 meters. Zuriel Wright (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) was second in the men's high jump at 1.91 meters, and was also fourth in the long jump at 6.32 meters, just ahead of teammate Sei Sei (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford).
Andrew Wieder (Clinton, NY/Clinton) stood atop the table in the men's pole vault at 3.25 meters.
The Pioneer relays also looked strong over the course of the day. The women's 4x400 team of Cole, Levi, Noella Burlette, and Meghan Sonnachio was a winner in 4:25.13. The men's 4x100 team of Wright, Washington, Richards, and Michael Campbell was tops in a time of 42.01 seconds. That is the E8's fastest time. Utica's men's 4x400 teams came in 1st and 2nd, with the team of Lohmann, Roberts, Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park), and Patrick Uwechue (/) snagging the win.
The Pioneers will compete at the Cortland Classic next weekend.
