WESTFIELD, MASS. - At a meet where they've perennially had success, the Utica University track and field programs continued that tradition on Saturday. The Pioneers won a total of nine events, and thrower Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) tracked down a school record he's been chasing at the Jerry Gravel Classic hosted by Westfield State University.
The Utica women placed second in the team competition with 145 points, while the Utica men were third with 183 points.
Kelly was the headliner on a strong day for Utica's throws group. He became just the second Utica men's thrower to eclipse 50 meters in the hammer throw, and took down Sam Bonk's school record with a mark of 51.12 meters. Kelly has set a PR in consecutive weeks on his way to the record. Elsewhere in the men's throws, Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) was the runner-up in the men's hammer throw (47.51 meters) and javelin throw (56.69 meters) and set a personal best in the hammer. In the men's shot put, Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) (15.18 meters), Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (13.89 meters) and Cole DeKing () (12.78 meters) finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively. DeKing's mark was the best of his young career at Utica. Michael McNeil (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) was a third place finisher in the men's discus with a top mark of 38.36 meters on his final attempt, only about two feet behind last week's personal best.
The women's throws group won three out of four possible events. Jane Fahy was a dual winner with a 12.83 meter shot put toss, and a performance of 36.01 meters in the discus to take top honors. Emilia Costello topped the table in the women's hammer throw field with a mark of 43.46 meters on her fourth attempt of the day. That is the third-best mark in program history.
In the men's jumps, some of Utica's younger jumpers stood out. Competing in just his fourth collegiate meet, Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was the high jump winner at 1.90 meters. Veteran multi-event specialist Zuriel Wright (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) was third in the long jump with a mark of 6.35 meters, with TyJon Billinger coming in fourth at 6.32 meters, good for the best mark of his collegiate career in that event. Billinger was second in the men's triple jump with a 12.85 meter performance, while Cooper Jones (Rio Rancho, NM/Rio Rancho) came in third with a personal best of 11.82 meters.
In the women's jumps, Laura Meade was the winner of the women's triple jump at 10.96 meters, good for an AARTFC standard-meeting performance. Nora Devitt was fourth in 10.32 meters for the triple. Mackenzie Mix (4.93 meters) and Amina Sinclair (1.47 meters) were each third in the long jump and high jump, respectively.
In men's track events, the Pioneers had a top three finisher at 100, 200, and 400 meters. Andrew Hadasz was the runner-up at 100 meters at 11.16 seconds and was third at 200 meters in 22.56. Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park) was the runner-up at 400 meters in a personal best time of 53.28 seconds. Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) had a strong day with a fourth place finish at 200 meters, and a personal best time of 11.40 to place fifth at 100 meters. Tobias Jeralds (Chatham, NY/Chatham) was fifth at 800 meters with a time of 2:05.78. Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) (4:22) and Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) (4:23) placed third and fourth at 1500 meters. Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) was second in the 400 hurdles at 58.96 seconds. The men's 4x100 team was second in 43.15, while the men's 4x400 team ran a time of 3:36.81 to place third.
In women's track events, Mix won her collegiate 400 hurdles debut with a time of 1:07.57, with Meade placing second at 1:10.03. Meade was third in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.38. The 800 meters yielded another 1-2 finish with Jade Dening (2:25.12) leading Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez (2:28.58) to the line. Claudia Simione was third at 200 meters with a time of 27.77 seconds, and set a personal best at 100 meters (13.30) to place fifth. Elizabeth Glomski (28.51 seconds) had a personal best in her fifth place finish at 200 meters. The women's 4x400 relay team was victorious by twelve seconds.
The Pioneers will compete at the Hamilton Mid-Week meet on Tuesday, April 18th.
