UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's track and field team completed the final day of the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday evening. The Pioneers finished in fourth place with 83 points.
In the heptathlon,
Theodore Tsamis (Richmondville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) finished in sixth place with a score of 3798. The mark is good enough for sixth on the all time list. Tsamis started the day with a new personal record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.91, followed by a 3.75m pole value, and a time of 3:18.83 in the 1000m.
In the 60m hurdles,
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Institute of Technology) and
Cade Tavares (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) made the podium with a fifth and seventh place finish, respectively. Taylor ran a time of 8.66, while Tavares ran an 8.95.
In the 200m, the Pioneers placed three on the podium in
Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy),
Ellis Urgent (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central), and
Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel). Warren ran a time of 22.16 which is good enough for third all time, while Urgent and Flynn each ran a time of 22.46 which puts them fourth and fifth all time. All three have now qualified for the AARTFC regional meet in the event.
In the 3000m,
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) continued his dominance after running an 8:36.83 to take home a seventh place finish.
In the 4x400m, the team of Warren, Urgent, Flynn, and
Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) took home a third place finish with a time of 3:21.77.
In the weight throw, the trio of
Spencer Borghardt (Melville, NY/St.Anthony's),
Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and
Blake Gannon (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) continued their dominance taking home three podium finishes. Borghardt took second place with a 17.35m heave to place him third on the all time list. Talbot and Gannon finished fifth and sixth respectively. Talbot notched a 16.61m throw, while Gannon threw 15.15m.
In the high jump,
Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) nabbed second place after clearing 1.92m.
The Pioneers will now ready for the AARTFC Regional Meet on March 7 and 8, hosted by Ithaca College. Start time for day one is set for 10am.
