UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's track and field team will travel to SUNY Cortland for the All-Atlantic Regional Track and Field Conference Outdoor Championships starting on Wednesday, May 15 at noon and continuing Thursday, May 16 at 10 a.m.
 
Follow Along: Live results will be available here courtesy of Leone Timing. 
 
Last Time Out: The team competed at the Farley Inter Regional Meet hosted by Williams College on May 10-11. Three school records fell in all different event groups. In the javelin throw, Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) not only broke his own school record but set a new Empire 8 conference record as well. His toss of 63.59m also gave him first place at the meet. The other school record taken down was by Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville). His time of 14:59.94 is now the new school record, beating his previous school record time of 15:06.25. Finally, Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) broke the school record in the 200m. Hadasz ran a 21.36 to set a new school record, and place first at the meet. The school record performance came with a callback to a brand-new Hall of Famer at Utica, as Hadasz eclipsed the previous school standard of 21.38 set by Nicodemus Gambill. His performance sits fourth in the region, and just outside the top 30 nationally. In the high jump, the Pioneers posted a trio of personal bests. Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the way with a jump of 2.01m to place second at the meet. Louis Pinto (Clinton, NY/Clinton) was third (1.93m), and Justin Valentin (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) tied for fifth (1.88m). All three heights were personal bests. McCaskill is #3 in program history, Pinto's mark is #6 in program history, and Valentin's performance stands at #8 in the program's all-time ranking. In the shot put, Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) continues to look strong ahead of the next leg of the postseason. He heaved a 16.43m, placing second at the meet.
 
In The Polls: In the regional rankings that came out on Tuesday, May 14, the Pioneers are currently ranked sixth with 383.94 points. This is the same spot as last week's rankings, and Utica remains the highest ranked Empire 8 team. Some of the team's top point scorers include Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (81.98), Justin Swavely (Rome, NY/RFA) (45.13), Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) (41.86), Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden) (39.55) and Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (38.24).
 
Runner Of the Week: Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) was named the Empire 8 Track Athlete of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. In the 200m, Hadasz ran a 21.36 to set a new school record, and place first at the meet at Williams this past weekend. The school record performance came with a callback to a brand-new Hall of Famer at Utica, as Hadasz eclipsed the previous school standard of 21.38 set by Nicodemus Gambill. His performance sits fourth in the region, and just outside the top 30 nationally. Hadasz also ran the 4x100m with Nyles Rogers (Suffern, NY/Suffern), Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden), and Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) for a sixth-place finish, getting the stick around at 42.89.
 
Field Athlete of The Week:  Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was named the Empire 8 Field Athlete of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. McCaskill cleared 2.01m in the high jump to place second at the Farley Inter-Regional Extravaganza on Saturday. It was a personal best for McCaskill and the number three all-time mark in program history.
 
Last Year at Regionals:  The team competed at the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference Championships hosted by Susquehanna University last May. Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) placed 20th in the discus with a throw of 40.86m as he looks to improve upon that mark this year. The 4x100 team of Zuriel Wright (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial), Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Shane Tinney (Whitesboro, NY/Oriskany) and Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) finished 18th with a mark of 43.82 seconds. Beyond the record book, two other Pioneers scored podium finishes, including one competitor who solidified his national qualifying posture heading into tomorrow's championship selection announcement. That athlete was All-American shot putter Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College). At the time, Logan notched the second-best performance of his career and was second in the standings with a top mark of 16.72 meters. That mark propeled him to tenth in the nation.
 
Wednesdays Events: The schedule for day one of the meet will be as follows:
 
2:00 pm: Hammer Throw: Antwan Kelly (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) (53.81m, Cortland Classic on 4/19) Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) (52.40m, Empire 8 Championships on 5/3) Mark Brown (46.73m, Empire 8 Championships on 5/3)
3:15 pm: 4x100m relay: Nyles Rogers (Suffern, NY/Suffern), Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Connor Dean (Taberg, Ny/Camden), Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (42.38, Empire 8 Championships on 5/3)
6:00 pm: Steeplechase: Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) (9:27.45, Empire 8 Championships on 5/3)
 
Thursdays Events: The schedule for day two of the meet will be as follows:
 
11:00 am: High Jump: Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (2.01m, Farley Inter Regional on 5/10)
2:30 pm: Shot Put: Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) (16.89m, Bobbi Palma UAlbany Spring Classic on 4/19)
3:50 pm: 200m: Andy Hadasz (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (21.36, Farley Inter Regional on 5/10)
4:25 pm: 4x800m: Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park), Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker), Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central), Eddy Corporan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C Ketcham) (8:02.84, Empire 8 Championships on 5/3)
 
Up Next: Those qualified will travel to Conway, SC for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships starting on Thursday, May 23 hosted by Coastal Carolina University.