ROCHESTER, NY- The Utica University men's track and field team won its third Empire 8 Conference Outdoor Championship in program history, and the first since 2017 after a big performance on Saturday.
 
The Pioneers were in second place following the first day of competition, but edged out St. John Fisher College by just five points to take the crown. 
 
Utica picked up a win in the men's 4x100m as Ka'Sean Watlington (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Bluepoint), Josh Washington, Michael Campbell, and Daijon Richards (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon) finished in 42.78.  The Pioneers also had an impressive showing in the men's 100m placing three athletes in the top four, with Richards winning it in a facility-record time of 10.73. 
 
Richards followed up his winning performance in the 100 with a victory in the 200m (22.75) while Washington finished third in the 200.  Watlington backed up his winning performance in the long jump with a win in the triple jump by almost a full meter.  Watlington's mark of 15.10m is the best in the nation so far this season
 
The Pioneers had an almost dominant performance in the men's shot put as Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) and Arthur Bittel (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) came away with a 1-2 finish, while Jacob Barnes (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) placed fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.  Logan's toss of 15.98m was a new meet and facility record and currently ranks ninth in the country this year.

Watlington was named the Field Athlete of the Meet, while Michael McNeil (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) was named the men's Empire 8 torchbearer winner, for having the highest GPA out of all teams competing in the championships.   
 
The Pioneers return to action Thursday as they travel to Allegheny College.