UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's track and field team sits in first place with 139.5 points at the Pioneer Spring Invite after day one on Saturday, April 6. The only remaining event will be javelin, which will be contested on Sunday, April 7 at 11 am.
 
The men's team had plenty of top finishers across all event types on the day, including an event win in the high jump by Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), for the second week in a row. McCaskill bowed out at 1.89m to take the win. Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) also grabbed a win for the team in shot put, with a toss of 15.33m. Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was just behind him in second at 13.78m. 
 
In the 100m dash, Andrew Hadasz ran a 10.79 to take third place overall. Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) ran a huge personal best time of 11.11 to take eighth. Kain also ran the 200m in 22.79 to take seventh place. In the 110m hurdles, Justin Valentin (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) crossed the line at 16.57 to place seventh. The men's team took third, fifth and seventh place in the 400m hurdles. Jonathan Simmons (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) was third (1:00.85), Timothy Jeralds (Denver, CO/Chatam) was fifth (1:03.51), and Bryan Reeves was seventh (1:03.99). 
 
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) ran a 4:09.51 in the 1500m to place sixth overall in first time doing the event. In the 3000m steeplechase, the Pioneers took fourth and fifth place. Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) was fourth (9:59.39), and Tobias Jeralds (Chatham, NY/Chatham) was fifth (10:02.80). This is a personal best time for both Leotta and Jeralds. 
 
In the hammer throw, the team went two-three. Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) was second (43.69m), and Mark Brown was third (43.50m). 
 
In his season debut, Jack Rathburn (Clarendon Hills, IL/Westmont) took third place in pole vault, clearing a height of 4.15m. Not only is this a personal best for Rathburn, but this also places him fifth all-time in program history. Also in pole vault was Jeffery Forkhammer at sixth (2.95m), and Theodore Tsamis (Richmondville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) at seventh (2.80m).
 
After day two is concluded on Sunday, April 7, the team will travel out to Massachusetts to Westfield State University for the Jerry Gravel Classic on Saturday, April 13. A start time is yet to be determined.