UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's track & field gets set for two different invitationals this weekend. The Boston University Valentine Invitational will take place on Saturday, February 10 at 9 a.m. for select athletes only, and the Central New York Valentine Alternative takes place in Utica, NY at the Todd and Jen Hutton Sports Center on Saturday, February 10 at 2 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Live video for the BU Valentine Invitational can be found here and live stats can be found here. Those interested in attending can also purchase tickets through https://am.ticketmaster.com/agganis/track. Live results for the CNY Valentine Alternative can be accessed through https://www.leonetiming.com/. 
 
Last Time Out:The Utica University men's indoor track and field team hosted the Fast Trax Invite on Saturday, February 3, and had great performances across the board. The men's team placed second overall out of 19 schools with 126 points and won four individual events. Two of those wins came in the sprinting events, won by familiar faces. In his first 400m of the year, Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) won with a time of 50.06. Not only does that qualify Hadasz for regionals, but he also now leads the Empire 8 Conference in that event. In the 300m, freshman Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) took first place running 36.15, putting him at third all-time in program history at that distance. Warren also ran a personal best 23.13 in the 200m, placing fourth. Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) placed fourth in the 300m with a time of 37.22, putting him seventh all-time. For the fourth time this season, Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) took first place in the shot put, throwing 16.03m, his second-best mark this indoor season. Also in shot put, Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) took fourth, (13.99m), and Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was fifth (13.76m). In the weight throw, the Pioneers went across the board one-two-three. Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was first (17.66m), Swavely was second (15.71m), and Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) was third (15.63m). Swavley tied his personal best, and a huge personal best for Borghardt. In the high jump, and making his collegiate debut, Louis Pinto (Clinton, NY/Clinton) jumped 1.87m to take the win while putting himself third in the conference standings. Meanwhile in long jump, Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) placed second with a leap of 6.45m. This is a personal best for the freshman Dean while he also ran a 23.18 in his first 200m, placing sixth. For the 3000m, freshman Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) took second place with a personal best time of 8:57.47, also putting him fourth all-time in program history for that distance. Also in the sprints, Shane Tinney (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) ran a personal best in the 60m, running a 7.24 and qualified for finals to place eighth overall. Tinney also placed eighth in his first collegiate 300m with a time of 38.11.The men's distance medley relay team of Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park), Tobias Jeralds (Chatham, NY/Chatham), and Zachary Brown (Milford, NY/Milford Central) clocked in at 11:15.27 to place second.  
 
In The Polls: In the current Niagara Regional rankings that came out on February 5, the men's team holds the seventh spot with 125.83 points. This is a one spot increase from last week, and the Pioneers remain the highest ranked Empire 8 team. Some of the team's top point scorers include Andrew Hadasz (33.05), Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) (19.26), Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) (10.8) Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (9.72), and Louis Pinto (Clinton, NY/Clinton) (8.77)
 
Who Will Be Attending BU: Multiple schools from NCAA Division I, II, and III will be attending this weekend's Invitational. The events the men's team will be competing in are as follows: 
 
Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) (WT)
Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) (400m, LJ, 4x400m)
Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (200m, 400m, 4x400m)
Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (200m)
Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) (WT)
Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) (SP)
Billie Mays (SP)
Jon Simmons (200m, 400m, 4x400m)
Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) (400m, 4x400m)
Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) (WT)
Shane Tinney (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) (60m, 200m)
Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) (400m, 4x400m)
Tobias Jeralds (Chatham, NY/Chatham) (DMR)
Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park) (DMR)
Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) (DMR)
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) (DMR)
*The DMR will be contested on Friday*
 
Last Time At BU: The Utica University track and field program competed at BU on Feb. 11, 2023. The meet was a tremendous success as three school records were set and many athletes recorded personal records. Hayden Lohmann (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) recorded a personal record in the men's 800m with a time of 2:00.44 which ranked seventh all-time. Shane Tinney (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) ran a 7.46 60m dash while Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had a phenomenal performance as he ran a 22.23 200m which is the second fastest in program history. Other notable finishes in the men's 200m were Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) (23.23), Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (23.24), Shane Tinney (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) (23.59), and Dion Putaski (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona Sherrill) (23.89). The Pioneers were terrific in the men's 400m as all four participants set personal records. Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) clocked in at 51.29 which ranks sixth all-time and Andy Hadasz's (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) time of 51.42 is now seventh all-time. Both Dion Putaski (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona Sherrill) and Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) also set personal records as Putaski clocked in at 52.17 and Kain turned in a performance of 53.24. Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) continued his record-breaking season and his 17.90m weight throw broke his previous school record of 17.83m. Kelly is the lone Pioneer to ever eclipse 17m and has done so an incredible five times this season. Nathan Florian's best toss was 15.45m and Justin Swavely's (Rome, NY/RFA) was 14.85m. Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) recorded a shot put of 15.77m and Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) tossed a throw of 14.11m. Zuriel Wright (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) continued his amazing season and finished tied for fifth with a clearance of 1.94m and Blake Hobin (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) recorded a height of 1.79m.
 
Field Athlete of The Week: Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) earned Empire 8 Men's Co-Field Athlete of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. Logan, for the fourth time this season at the Utica University Fast Trax Invitational, took first place in the shot put, throwing 16.03m. That is his second-best mark this season. The All-American leads the Empire 8 in shot put and is ranked sixth in AARTFC.
 
Goin' The Distance: Freshman Bennett Milita had himself a day at the Fast Trax Invite on February 3. The freshman dropped personal best times in the mile (4:29.80), and in the 3000 (8:57.47). In Empire 8 standings, he is now third in the 3000 and fifth in the mile. 
 
Dual Threat: Another freshman who had a great showing at the Fast Trax Invite was Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden). In his first collegiate 200m, Dean ran an impressive time of 23.18 that now ranks him fourth in Empire 8 standings. He also had a personal best long jump of 6.45m and moved all the way up to second in Empire 8 standings.  

Up Next: Utica heads to Hamilton, NY for the Colgate University Meet on Saturday, February 17 at 11 a.m. This will be the final meet for the team before the Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championships.