UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's track & field team gets set for two different Invitationals this weekend. The Boston University Valentine Invitational will take place on Friday, February 9 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 women's indoor Track & Field team took first place at the Fast Trax Invite on Saturday, February 3, scoring 150.5 points. The team won three individual events, including both throwing events. In the weight throw, Riley King (Oswego, NY/Oswego) took the win throwing a personal best 14.84m that not only qualified her for regionals, but also puts her at fifth all time in program history for that event. Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Royce Ketcham) was second (13.61m), and Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was third (13.21m). As one would expect, Jane Fahy (Oriskany, NY/MVCC/Oriskany) won the shot put for the fifth time this season with a throw of 13.29m. King was also fourth (11.14m), and Cary was fifth (11.04m). Nora Devitt (Beverly, MA/Beverly) has been having a phenomenal season in the jumping events thus far and didnt slow down today. Devitt took the win in long jump with a personal best leap of 5.38m putting her at fourth all-time in program history. She also placed second in the triple jump (11.06m). Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) had a pair of second-place finishes in both sprinting events she competed in. For the 60m, Mix qualified for finals and placed second, running a time of 8.17. At 400m, Mix clocked in at 59.52, qualifying her for regionals and giving her second place. Also with a pair of top finishes for the sprints was Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor). Her time of 27.44 gave her second place in the 200m, and also ran a 44.59 in the 300m to take third. Wadley's 300m time puts her at number nine all-time in program history at that distance. For the pole vault, the Pioneers went two-three as Cassondra Wood (Canasota, NY/Canasota) and Maizie Poulakis (Hamptons Bay, NY/Hamptons Bay) each cleared 2.85m, with Wood getting the number two spot due to one less failed attempt than Poulakis. Wood is now tied for the sixth all time spot in program history in the event. In the 60m hurdles, Stefania Grimaldi (Poland, NY/Poland Central) ran a huge personal best time of 9.71 to make finals, and placed sixth overall. That time now puts her at fifth all time in program history.
 
In The Polls: In the current Niagara Regional rankings that came out on February 5, the women's team holds the sixth spot with 153.46 points. This is a two spot increase from last week, and the Pioneers remain the highest ranked Empire 8 team. Some of the team's top point scorers are  Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) (34.13), Abrianna Wadley (29.47), Arianna McClendon (/New York Mills) (28.54), Jane Fahy (Oriskany, NY/MVCC/Oriskany) (23.92) and Nora Devitt (Beverly, MA/Beverly) (24.15).  
 
Who Will Be Attending BU: Multiple schools from NCAA Division I, II, and III will be attending this weekend's Invitational. The events the women's team will be competing in are as follows: 
 
Claudia Simione (Lebanon, NH/Lebanon) (200m, 400m, 4x400m)
Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford) (200m, 800m, 4x400m)
Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) (200m, 4x400m)
Arianna McClendon (/New York Mills) (400m, 4x400m)
Jade Dening (Remsen, NY/Remsen) (800m, 4x400m)
Abrianna Wadley (200m, 400m, 4x400m)
Jane Fahy (Oriskany, NY/MVCC/Oriskany) (SP)
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) (SP)
Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Royce Ketcham) (WT)
Riley King (Oswego, NY/Oswego) (WT)
 
Last Time At BU: The Utica University track and field program had some athletes compete at the Boston University Invitational on Feb. 10, 2023. Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) smashed her own indoor 400m school record with a phenomenal time of 56.90. Laura Meade (Glenville, NY/Scotia-Glenville) ran a 1:02.90 in the 400m. Mix ran a 25.52 200m and Laura Meade (Glenville, NY/Scotia-Glenville) turned in a 26.71 performance in the women's 200m. Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford) turned in a time of 2:25.07 which ranked seventh all-time in the women's 800m. Jade Dening (Remsen, NY/Remsen) ran a 5:27.29 mile and Gianna Welker (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) clocked in at 5:38.13.Kyla Reed (Lowville, NY/Lowville) ran a 1:12.42 in the women's 400m. In the women's 800m Noella Burlette (Manchester, CT/Manchester) clocked in at 2:39.51. Gabrielle DeSanctis (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) threw a 14.68m toss which was one of her best throws this season. The women's distance relay team turned in a performance of 14:11.07 comprised Jade Dening (Remsen, NY/Remsen), Noella Burlette (Manchester, CT/Manchester), Kyla Reed (Lowville, NY/Lowville), and Gianna Welker (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany). Jane Fahy (Oriskany, NY/MVCC/Oriskany) tossed a 12.39m throw in the women's shot put and was the only Division III athlete to reach the finals.
 
Rising Star: In her first collegiate track season, Abrianna Wadley has been having a phenomenal indoor season. Wadley is regionally qualified for high jump and ranks second in Empire 8 standings. At the Fast Trax Invite over the weekend, she ran a 27.44 in her first ever 200m and is now ranked fifth in conference standings. Wadley is also the lead off leg of the 4x400m relay squad that includes herself, Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford), Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden), and Arianna McClendon (/New York Mills) that has the conference lead. 
 
Catch Her If You Can: Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) dropped a massive personal best of 59.52 in the 400m last Saturday to not only qualify for regionals, but also take the conference lead in that event. She also has the conference-leading time in the 200m (26.25) and holds the fifth spot in the 60m (8.06).
 
Jump Around, Jump Around: Junior Nora Devitt (Beverly, MA/Beverly) has had a career year with the team this season. Devitt has set a number of personal bests this indoor season and is regionally qualified for both long and triple jump. She has the conference lead in triple jump (11.45m) and is fourth in long jump (5.38m).  
 
Up Next: Utica heads to Hamilton, NY for the Colgate University Meet on Saturday, February 17 at 11 a.m. It will be the final meet for the team before the Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championships.