CORTLAND, NY - The Utica University men's track and field team competed at two separate meets on Friday, April 19. A majority of the team was at the Cortland Classic which will continue tomorrow, April 20 at 9 a.m. The team also sent two Pioneers to Albany to compete at the Bobbie Palma Spring Classic at the University of Albany.
 
Despite just two athletes representing the Pioneers at the Bobbie Palma Spring Classic in Albany, the team made their presence felt by winning two events. In shot put, Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) took first place. Logan's throw of 16.89m that secured the win is a huge season-best and is currently the sixth-best throw in NCAA Division III. Also with a win at Albany was Justin Swavley in the javelin throw. Swavely's throw of 60.43m gave him the win by more than seven meters. 
 
At the Cortland Classic, the team took down two school records. In the 5000m, Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) broke his own school record by running a 15:06.25, beating his previous school record by more than six seconds and giving Melita the win. Another Pioneer who broke his own school record was Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) in the hammer throw. Kelly's 53.81m throw bettered his previous school record of 53.11m and gave him third place in the event. 
 
Melita wasn't the only Pioneer with a personal best in a distance event on the afternoon. In the 10000m, Zach Brown ran a personal best 33:06.47 to claim the win. In the 3000m steeplechase, Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) ran a personal best 9:57.03 to place third. 
 
Also at Cortland, the Pioneers had three athletes compete in the decathlon. After day one, Andrew Weider is in first place with 2044 points, Theodore Tsamis (Richmondville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) is in second (2822) and Jeffery Forkhamer (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish) is in fourth place (2753). The decathlon events that were contested today were the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 400m. Tsamis won the long jump (6.30m), and Wieder won the 400m (52.59). The trio will complete the remainder of their decathlon tomorrow by competing in 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin, and the 1500m.
 
Utica will be back in Cortland, NY tomorrow, April 20 for Day Two of the Cortland Classic beginning at 9 a.m.