TROY, NY- The Utica University men's track and field team completed its day at the RPI Capital District Classic in Rensselaer, NY on Friday, April 26. The team placed second overall with 103.5 points.
The team was able to capture three event wins on the day, including two throwing events. In the 200m,
Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) claimed his first collegiate win, running a 22.98. In the hammer throw, Spencer Borghart threw a huge personal best of 51.11m to take the win. Also in hammer throw was
Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) in second (48.68m), and
Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) in third (48.44m). For the sixth time this season,
Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) won the shot put, throwing a 16.80m. Joined by Logan in the shot put was Swavely in fourth (14.30m), and
Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) in sixth (13.56m). This is a personal best for Swavley.
In the 100m finals,
Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) ran a 10.84 to place second overall. Hadasz along with Kain,
Nyles Rogers (Suffern, NY/Suffern) and
Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) made up the 4x100m relay squad that ran a season-best 42.47 and placed third.
The 400m hurdles saw three Pioneers finish in the top eight.
Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) was third (59.33),
Rian Kirker (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) was seventh (1:02.78), and Bryan Reeves was eighth (1:05.11). This is a personal best time for Kirker.
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) continued his dominant season in the distance events, this time in the 1500m. Melita ran a huge personal best of 4:02.69 to take second place.
The team also scored points in both the long and triple jump. Dean competed in the long jump and took seventh place, jumping 6.35m. In the triple jump,
Matthew Murphy (Remsen, NY/Remsen) jumped 12.49m to finish sixth. This is a new personal best jump for Murphy.
Jack Rathburn (Clarendon Hills, IL/Westmont) cleared 3.90m in the pole vault to take fourth place.
The Pioneers will now turn their focus to the Empire 8 Championships next weekend hosted by St. John Fisher. Day one of the meet will be on Friday, May 3 starting at 3 p.m. Day two will follow on Saturday, May 4 starting at 11 a.m.
