UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's track and field team hosted its home opener that began on Friday, December 8 and continued on Saturday. The team scored 44.5 points and placed sixth overall at the Utica Holiday Classic from the Todd and Jen Hutton Sports and Recreation Center. 
 
Senior Andrew Wieder (Clinton, NY/Clinton) completed the heptathlon he began on Friday and took the win with a point total of 3,907. Wieder was second coming into Saturday and performed well enough in his remaining events to take the win, including a win in the pole vault. 
 
Sophomore Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) had another fantastic day on the track. Flynn ran a personal best 36.04 in the 300m which gave him the win, and was also the leadoff leg in the men's 4x200m relay along with Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker), Michael Campbell, and Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) who placed second, running a time of 1:33.57. Dean and Smith also went eight-nine in a fast field of the 400m, with Dean coming in at 52.04, and Smith just behind him at ninth crossing the line at 52.21.
 
It was another day at the office for the men's throwing squad. In weight throw, Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) took third with a personal best throw of 15.23m. In shot put, Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) also placed third thanks to his throw of 14.40m, which is a season-best thus far. 
 
In pole vault, Jack Rathburn (Clarendon Hills, IL/Westmont) cleared a personal best height of 3.85m to place sixth overall. 
 
The Pioneers now head into semester break and will pick their season up at home on Friday, January 12 for the Utica Winter Opener. The meet is set to begin at 3pm.