CANTON, NY - The Utica University men's indoor track and field team started off its season at St. Lawrence University on Saturday, December 2. The team collected three individual event wins while also winning the meet, scoring 145.5 points.
 
In the 60m hurdles, Justin Valentin (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) took first place with a time of 9.10, and Jack Rathburn (Clarendon Hills, IL/Westmont) won the pole vault clearing a height of 3.80m. The men's distance medley relay team of Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), Timothy Jeralds, Tobias Jeralds (Chatham, NY/Chatham) and Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) edged out St. Lawrence by two seconds, getting the baton around in 11:24.18.
 
Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) earned himself a spot in the 60m finals and placed fourth with a time of 7.15, already matching his personal best from last season. In his first time ever running the 500m, freshman Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) placed second clocking in at 1:08.10. The freshman success didn't stop there for the team as Ben Lohmann placed fifth in the 600m, crossing the line in 1:30.28.
 
The distance squad had a phenomenal day on the track for the Pioneers. In the 1000m, Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) placed third as he ran a personal best time of 2:39.77. Tobias Jeralds (Chatham, NY/Chatham) was not far behind and placed fifth, coming through at 2:44.07, which is also a personal best. 
In the mile run, the Pioneers went five-six, with Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) finishing at a personal best time of 4:41.50, and Ben Billinger just behind him at 4:45.02. 
 
For the jumping events, Theodore Tsamis (Richmondville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) took second, clearing a height of 1.75, and Edvin Selimovic (Poland, NY/West Canada Valley) placed fourth in triple jump with a leap of 12.05. 
 
The men's throwing squad showed out as well, picking up where it left off in recent years. In the weight throw, the team went two-three-four. Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) placed second with a toss of 14.96m, Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) was third, throwing a personal best 14.78m, and Joshua Talbot's (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) throw of 14.48m gave him fifth which was also a personal best. 
 
The Pioneers will return home next weekend for the Utica Holiday Classic. Heptathlon events will be on Friday, December 8 and the remainder of the meet to follow on Saturday, December 9.