BROCKPORT, NY - The Utica University women's track and field team completed the 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championships on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers finished in fifth place, collecting 51.5 points.
In the heptathlon, Stefania Grimaldi (Poland, NY/Poland Central) earned top honors, winning the event with 3,868 points. Grimaldi led all competitors in the long jump (5.25m) and javelin throw (32.79m) and secured the overall victory with a strong 800m run (2:44.62) to cap the multi-event competition.
In the 4x100 meter relay, the team of Amelia Petersen (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville), Lilly Messler (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville), Nyasia Marsh (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland), and Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) placed fifth overall with a time of 50.03 seconds.
On the track, Mix placed sixth in the 100m dash, running 12.61 seconds in the final. In the 200m final, Mix placed ninth with a time of 26.36.
In the 800m, Jade Dening (Remsen, NY/Remsen) finished in ninth place with a time of 2:21.60.
In the 400m hurdles, Lilly Messler (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) placed 10th overall, clocking a time of 1:09.82.
In the 5000m, Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) ran her way to a new school record in the event, clocking in a time of 17:59.71.
The Pioneers closed out the track events in the 4x400 meter relay, where the squad of Jade Dening (Remsen, NY/Remsen), Madalyn Haaf (Pompey, NY/Fabius-Pompey), Emma Charboneau (), and Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) finished seventh with a time of 4:28.36.
In the high jump, Hannah Allison (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) placed second overall, clearing 1.60 meters.
In the triple jump, senior Nora Devitt (Beverly, MA/Beverly) secured a runner-up finish with a mark of 11.02 meters.
In the shot put, Riley King (Oswego, NY/Oswego) placed seventh with a throw of 11.37 meters, while teammate Ranasia Bailey (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown) took 15th (10.03m).
In the discus, Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) placed 15th (29.15m), and King was 17th (27.73m).
The Pioneers will now turn their attention to the Farley Inter Regional, hosted by Williams College on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12.
