ITHACA, NY - The Utica University track and field team traveled down to Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon for the Ithaca College Six Way Invitational. The Pioneers battled in a variety of different events against five other northeastern squads in Scranton, SUNY Delhi, SUNY Cortland, Alfred State, and the hosts Ithaca. The team got off to a fast start, using their morning momentum to take home a plethora of top performances.

All-Time Program Top 10's
Women's 4x200m - 2nd - 1:45.48
Men's 4x200 - 2nd - 1:30.39
Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) - 5k - 3rd - 18:32.03
Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) - Mile - 8th - 4:28.18
Kaleb Davis (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer Central) - 60mH - 10th - 8.93
Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central) - 800m - 7th - 1:59.37
Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) - 800m - 10th - 2:00.77
Haily Hrouda - Weight Throw - 4th - 15.09m

Track Events: 

The Pioneers got off to a raucous start at the Invitational, as the women's 4x200m relay team of Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota), Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills), Amelia Petersen (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville), and reigning Empire 8 Track Athlete of the Week Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel) recorded the second-best time in program history with a 1:45.48. That time was nearly a full second better than the next best team (Scranton with 1:46.21) as the orange and blue runners got the invite underway with a first place finish. 

RIght after the women's relay team took home the gold, the men's team did the exact same, as the other 4x200m relay team logged an excellent time of their own with a 1:30.39. That time, produced by the quartet of Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel), Wayne Spencer (Rochester, NY/Padilla (Franklin Campus)), Frank D'Angelo (), and Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy), was coincidentally also the second-best men's 4x200m relay time in program history, and gave the Pioneers their second first-place finish in the opening two events. 

Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) took on the 5k in the next event, running the third-best time in program history as she logged a 18:32.03. Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) also ran the 5k, grabbing first-place amongst a field of five runners. 

Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota) continued to dispel challengers in the 60m hurdles, finishing second in the qualifiers with an 8.83, before grabbing a second place finish in the finals thanks to an 8.79.

Olivia Jensen (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) also showed out on the 60m hurdle qualifiers, securing herself a spot in the finals with a 9.73 as the seventh-fastest finisher in the opening few heats. 

In the men's 60m hurdles, Kaleb Davis (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer Central) had a solid qualifying run, crossing the line with a 9.06 which was good for a seventh place finish and a berth in the finals. In the final, the phenomenal freshman finished with an 8.93, good for 10th place all-time in program history for the event. 

In the men's mile, Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) took home the silver, finishing with an outstanding 4:28.18 time. His mark helped him reach within three seconds of first place, and was also good for the eighth-best time in program history for the men's mile. 

Last week's Empire 8 Track Athlete of the Week kept up her stellar form in the next event, as Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel) finished in second-place during the women's 400m with a 1:00.32 time.

In the mirroring event, Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) and Nolan Flynn (Bethel, CT/Bethel) showcased their speed, finishing first and third respectively with times of 49.63 and 50.42. Warren captured his second first-place finish of the afternoon after he and Flynn also grabbed gold in the earlier 4x200m relay. 

In the men's 800m, Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central) and Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) reigned supreme over the competition, finishing first and second with times of 1:59.37 and 2:00.37 respectively. Those marks also registered as the 7th and 10th best marks in program-history. 

Field Events:

The powerful Pioneer duo of Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) kept up their top throwing form, as the pair of seniors finished second and third respectively in the weight throw. Talbot landed a long distance of 17.02, while Borghardt, the reigning Empire 8 Field Athlete of the Week, launched a 16.62m throw. 

For the women, junior Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) grabbed the fourth best mark in program history during the weight throw. Hrouda finished with a long of 15.09m, which she accomplished in the sixth round. Her stellar sixth round showing was preceded by a fifth round toss of 14.73m, which was the eight best toss in program history.

Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) continued the Pioneers' string of solid performances in the circle, grabbing third in the shot put with a 12.23m toss.

In the men's shot put, freshman Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) launched a 14.28, good for his personal record and the eleventh best mark in program history. He also received fourth place in the event thanks to his top mark.

In the men's pole vault, Aaron Johnson () continued to place highly, finishing second with a top leap of 4.30.

In the men's high jump, Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) grabbed a third place finish, leaping 1.84 to cement the bronze. 

In the mirroring event, Hannah Allison (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) also grabbed a third place finish, leaping 1.59 in her high jump outing. 

The Pioneer track and field team will be back on the road next weekend, heading to the Boston University Terrier Invite in Boston, Massachusetts. Next weekend's meet will be on Saturday, January 31st and will be held at the BU Track and Tennis Center. Start time is scheduled for 10:30 AM.