UTICA, NY - The Empire 8 has announced its athletes of the week, with senior thrower Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) splitting the Co-Field Athlete of the Week award. This marks the second time of the 2025-26 season that Borghardt has earned conference recognition after his strong outing at the Suffolk University Ice Breaker in mid-January. Borghardt and the Pioneers will look to carry momentum into the St. Lawrence University Open this coming Friday.

Borghardt and the Utica track and field teams recently hosted the Pioneer Fast Trax Invitational. He competed in the weight throw event for the Pioneers, placing second with a 17.79-meter throw. The senior thrower was one of just three athletes, two of them representing Utica, at the event to cross the 16.00-meter threshold. His throw was good enough for the second-best in program history.

The track and field team returns to action this Friday, February 20th, at the St. Lawrence University Open. Action is set to begin at 4:00 pm at the Newell Field House in Canton, New York.