CORTLAND, NY - The Utica University women's track and field team wrapped up day two of the Cortland Classic on Saturday, April 20. The team won four events on the afternoon and had great performances across the board.
Utica had four athletes compete in the heptathlon, all for the first time. The team took four of the top six spots as
Alyssa Youngs (Constableville/West Canada Valley) was the highest scorer with 3686 points to place third overall. During her heptathlon, Youngs posted personal bests in the 100m hurdles (16.23), 200m (27.67), javelin throw (26.18m), and 800m (2:45.49). Also in the heptathlon was
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) in fourth (3372),
Hannah Allison (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) was fifth (3158) and
Stefania Grimaldi (Poland, NY/Poland Central) was sixth (2879).
In the throwing events, the Pioneers captured two wins. All-American
Jane Fahy (Oriskany, NY/MVCC/Oriskany) won the shot put, throwing 14.30m. This was her fifth shot put win this season. In the discus throw,
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) got the win with a throw of 42.35m, her fourth discus win this season. Also in discus was Fahy in second place with a throw of 39.63m, her second-best throw of her career.
On the track,
Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) had three top four finishes. In the 100m finals, Mix ran a 12.31 to place second, which is a new season best time. In the 400m hurdles, Mix also placed second with her time of 1:09.18. Mix along with
Zeniyah Gholson (Monticello, NY/Monticello),
Janaiya Cruz-Bermudez (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford) and
Laura Meade (Glenville, NY/Scotia-Glenville) ran the 4x100m relay in a time of 50.53 to place fourth. In the 100m hurdle finals, the Pioneers placed five and six.
Olivia Jensen (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) was fifth (17.13), and Meade was sixth (17.58). In the 400m, Cruz-Bermudez ran a spectacular personal best time of 1:01.41 to place sixth. This beats the senior's previous personal best by more than a second.
Jade Dening (Remsen, NY/Remsen) was fifth in the 800m running a time of 2:23.55, which is her new season best.
In the jumps,
Nora Devitt (Beverly, MA/Beverly) took fourth place in the triple jump with a leap of 11.03m. In high jump,
Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) cleared 1.41m to take sixth place. This is just shy of Anthony's personal best jump of 1.42m.
The team will now turn their focus to the RPI Capital District Classic in Rensselaer, NY on Friday, April 26. This will be Utica's last regular season meet before the Empire 8 Championships. A start time is yet to be determined.
