CANTON, NY - The Utica University men's indoor track & field team placed second overall at the St. Lawrence Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Utica scored 165 total points, scoring on 13 out of the 17 events.
 
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) began the meet with an incredible finish in the 5000m. He completed the race in 15:16.36 and broke the current indoor program record.
 
The Pioneers dominated shot put, placing six athletes 1-2-3-4-5-6. All-American Hunter Logan (Fort Plain, NY/Herkimer College) took first with a 15.50m throw, continuing his greatness. Billie Mays III (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) placed second with a 13.85m throw, followed by Michael McNeil (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) in third (13,52m), Mike Rollins (Port Henry, NY/Moriah) took fourth (12.66m), Thomas Dunn (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) finished fifth (12.39m) and Eddie Haeffer (Sound Beach, NY/Miller Place) took sixth (12.35m). Both McNeil and Haeffer collected personal records with their throws.
 
Weight throw saw Utica take the top three spots. Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's) placed first overall with a 16.43m throw. Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) marked a 15.28m throw and took second while Blake Gannon (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) placed third with a 14.99m throw.
 
Ellis Urgent (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) won the long jump with a personal best of 6.63m. Urgent has been a top contributor for Utica since he stepped on the track this winter.
 
Tristan Vargo (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park), Eddy Corporan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C Ketcham) and Connor Pirkl (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) took the top three spots in the 600m. Vargo placed first (1:26.88), Corporan second (1:27.56) and Pirkl third (1:34.21).
 
Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) took second overall in the 200m with his 22.62. Ethan Kain (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) placed fifth stamping a 23.30.
 
The men's distance medley team of Leotta, Vargo, Corporan and Melita placed second overall with an 11:02.02.
 
Urgent took second overall in the 300m, running a 35.75. Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) placed sixth (37.11), Dominick Moore (New Hartford, NY/New York Mills) eight (37.70) and Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) in ninth (38.61).
 
Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollows Hills West) took second overall in the mile with a 4:36.69 and Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) placed fourth with a 4:44.01.
 
Theodore Tsamis (Richmondville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) and Matthew Martinez (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) went 3-4 in pole vault. Tsamis took third and scored a 3.50m leap and Martinez placed fourth with a 3.50m leap.
 
Utica heads to Boston University on Saturday, February 1, for the John Thomas Terrier Classic at 9 a.m.