HAMILTON,NY- The Utica University men's indoor track and field team took first place at the Colgate Class of '32 Invitational on Saturday, February 17. The Pioneers scored 196 total points, including eight individual event winners across all different event groups.
The Pioneers flexed their muscles per usual in the throwing events. In shot put,
Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) took first place with a throw of 15.90m. This is logans fifth time winning the event this season. The team also took all top five spots in shot put, as
Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was second (14.28m),
Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) was third (13.32m),
Michael McNeil (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) was fourth (12.52m), and
Thomas Dunn () took fifth place (12.42m). In the weight throw,
Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) took first place with a throw of 16.91m. Also in weight throw, Swavely was second (15.65m),
Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) was third (15.61m), and
Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) took fourth place (14.01m).
It was a great afternoon for the Pioneers in the sprinting events as well. In the 200m,
Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) ran a personal best time of 22.86 to take first place, and
Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) was third (23.74). This ties Simmons's personal best indoor 200m time. In the 300m, the team went one-two as
Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) took first with a time of 35.89, which is the second fastest time in program history. Also running a top ten time in the 300m was
Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), who crossed the finish line at 37.12 to take second place, and is the eighth fastest time in program history. The wins in the sprinting events didnt stop there, as
Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) took first place in the 400m with a time of 52.93.
Nyles Rogers (Suffern, NY/Suffern) took fourth place with a personal best time of 55.96 in his first 400m this season.
In the 60m, both Kain and
Shane Tinney (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) qualified for finals and took fifth and sixth place. Kain was fifth (7.34), and Tinney was sixth (7.39).
In the 800m, the team went three-four-five.
Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) was third (2:00.83),
Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) was fourth (2:01.90), and Bennett Melitta took fifth place (2:02.34). This was a personal best time for both Melitta and Smith and was also Smith's first time running the 800m.
At 3000m,
Joseph Santiago (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) took first place, crossing the finish line at 9:58.43.
In the jumping events,
Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) had a great afternoon as he took top two in both long and triple jump. Dean took the win in triple jump with a leap of 11.90m, and
Matthew Murphy (Remsen, NY/Remsen) was third with a jump of 11.33m. In long jump, Dean took second place with a 6.15m jump. In the high jump,
Andrew Wieder (Clinton, NY/Clinton) was first (1.76m), and
Cooper Jones (Rio Rancho, NM/Rio Rancho) was second, also clearing 1.76m. This was a personal best jump for Jones.
The Pioneers will turn their attention to the Empire 8 Championships next weekend at Houghton University. Day one will begin on Friday, February 23 at 3 p.m., and day two to follow on Saturday, February 10 at 10 .a.m.
