MIDDLETOWN, CT - The Utica University track and field team began their 2023 outdoor season on Sunday. There were no team scores for the meet.
 
It was a great day for the Pioneers with Zuriel Wright (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial), Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), Jane Fahy, and Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) winning their respective events.  
 
Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) finished third in the men's 100m dash with a time of 11.20. He was also sixth in the men's 200m dash with a time of 22.76, and part of the 4x400m relay along with Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) and Cole DeKing (), placing second with a time of 3:32.65. Simmons was also third in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 59.46. Andrew Hadasz was third in the men's 400m dash with a time of 51.84. 
 
Claudia Simione was fifth in the women's 100m dash clocking in at 13.19, and was also eighth in the women's 200m dash with a time of 27.52. Laura Meade finished fifth in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 1:14.32 and second in women's long jump with a leap of 5.03m.
 
Jade Dening placed fifth in the women's 1500m run with a time of 5:08.18. She was also part of the women's 4x800m relay along with Sarah Sharpe, Noella Burlette, and Kyla Reed which finished second, clocking in at 10:58.40. 
 
As for on the track, the Pioneers turned in some great performances on the field as well. It was another day at the office for the jumping duo of Zuriel Wright (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and Blake Hobin (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford). Wright was second in men's high jump clearing 1.90m and won the men's long jump with a leap of 6.80m. Hobin finished third in the men's high jump, clearing 1.85m. Jack Rathburn () had a huge personal record in the men's pole vault clearing 4.00m, which placed him fifth in the event. 
 
Utica had its usual dominance in throwing events turning in three first place finishes. Jane Fahy took first in the women's shot put with a toss of 12.65 while Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) also took first in the men's shot put with a throw of 13.69m. Michael McNeil (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) had a toss of 12.82m and was fourth in the event. Nate Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) was second in the men's discus throw with a toss of 42.45m, and Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was fourth in the event with a throw of 38.24m.
 
Sarah Florian was second in women's discus throw with a toss of 34.52m. In the men's javelin throw, Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) took first with a huge toss of 58.76m. That throw puts him at second all-time in program history, and ninth on the NCAA Division III national list. In the women's hammer throw, Gabrielle DeSanctis took second with a throw of 35.71m, and Skyler Whorf was fourth, throwing 34.20m. On the men's side, Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) placed third with a throw of 44.32m, and Mark Brown (Warwick, RI/Pilgrim) was fifth with a toss of 42.40m.   
 
Utica will remain on the road and travel to Clinton, NY for the Hamilton Continental Outdoor Invitational on Saturday, April 1 with the time to be determined.