UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's track & field team kicks off the 2024-2025 season by hosting the Utica Holiday Classic on Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 a.m. The meet will take place at the Todd & Jenn Hutton Sports and Recreation Center.
 
Follow Along: All results will be posted via LeoneTiming. Full Results will be available following the event.
 
At the Helm: The Pioneers are led by Head Coach James Lemieux, who enters his sixth season leading the team. Lemieux works directly with the Pioneer throwers and also assists Head Coach Sam Catterson with the cross-country program. In 2022 and 2024, Lemieux led the men's team to its fourth Empire 8 Conference Outdoor team title, while he and the coaching staff won Empire 8 Men's Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year. Assistant Coaches Sam Catterson will be returning for the indoor season with the team as well.
 
Last Indoor Season: Utica placed second at the Empire 8 Indoor Championships last season, totaling 160.4 points. The 4x400m team, composed of Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy), Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden), Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) and Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), took first place in a time of 3:24.52. Former Pioneer Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) placed first in weight throw with a mark of 17.75m. Hadasz won the 200m in a time of 22.19 and Warren placed second (22.61). Utica dominated the shot put event as three athletes placed top three. Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) placed first with a 16.01m, Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) placed second (14.13m) and Swavely third with a 13.91m toss.
 
Schedule Breakdown: Utica will host four home meets on December 7, January 14, February 7 and 8 and February 22. The Pioneers have two away meets: first at St. Lawrence on January 25 and second at Boston University on January 31 and February 1. The Empire 8 Indoor Championships are on February 28 and March 1, hosted by Utica University. The All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference(AARTFC) Indoor Championships take place on March 7 and 8 at Ithaca College, followed by the NCAA DIII Championships on March 14 and 15, hosted by Nazareth.
 
All-Conference Honors: The team had nine all-conference honors, as multiple athletes were awarded to multiple teams from different events. Hadasz took first team in the 200m and in the 4x400 relay along with Dean, Simmons and Warren. Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central), Simmons, Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) and Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) took first team in the distance medley relay. Melita also took first team in the 3,000m race (8:45.93). Logan collected first team shot put, followed by Mays III, who took third team. Kelly took third place in weight throw, followed by Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) who collected third team.
 
Returning Field Athletes: Logan, Swavely and Mays III return after their incredible indoor season in 2023. All three look to add to their list of accomplishments with the new season right underway. Logan placed first in six events last season, blowing past competition. He took first at the Utica Winter Open (16.11m), Hamilton Continental Inite (15.68m), Utica Blue & Orange Invite (15.89m), Utica Pioneer Fast Trax (16.03), Colgate Invite (15.90m) and the E8 Indoor Championships (16.01m). Logan also placed third in the region with a 16.34m toss. Mays III had seven events last season where he placed top-3 in shot put and five of his second-place finishes came behind Logan. Swavely returns after placing first twice in the weight throw, once at the Hamilton Invite (15.26m) and at the Utica Blue & Orange Invite (15.01m).
 
Returning Runners: Warren, Hadasz, Dean and Simmons return as the team's top sprinters. Melita, Leotta, Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park) and Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) return for long-distance. Warren competed in multiple events last season, his best finish came at the Utica Pioneer Invit, where he placed first in the 300m, running it in 36.15. Hadasz placed first 12 times between the first five indoor meets last season. His best mark came at the Hamilton Invit, where he ran a 7.02 in the 60m, adding to his stacked resume. Melita returns after placing top-10 in the Empire 8 Championships and at the AARTFC Championships.
 
Up Next: The Pioneers host the Utica Winter Opener on Friday, January 17, at 4 p.m. at the Todd and Jen Hutton Sports Center.