CANTON, NY - The Utica University men's and women's indoor track and field teams competed in the final meet of the regular season on Friday afternoon, the St. Lawrence Open, hosted by St. Lawrence University. The men took home first place out of six teams in team scoring with a total of 152 points, while the women took second of six teams with a total of 143 points.
School Records:
Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota) - 60m 1st Place 7.69
Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) - Weight Throw 1st Place 18.34m
Program Top-10's:
#5 Cade Tavares (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) - 60mH 8.49
#6 Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) - Mile 5:26.70
#7 Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) - Weight Throw 14.98m
#8 Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) - 800m 1:59.31
#9 Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) - Shot Put 14.58m
First Place Finishes:
Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) - Mile 4:35.50
Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) - 400m 1:03.40
Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota) - 60m 7.69
Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills) - 200m 26.51
Men's 4x400m (Zechariah Bolos (Clinton, NY/Clinton), Frank D'Angelo (), Leotta, Riley Smith (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland Central)) 3:35.95
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) - Shot Put 12.43m
Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) - Weight Throw 14.99m
Friday's competition opened with a statement from standout Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota), who wasted no time asserting control in the women's 60m hurdles. Suppa cruised through prelims in 8.89 before lowering that mark to an 8.85 in the finals to take the event title. Juniors Olivia Jensen (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and Amelia Petersen (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) also advanced to the finals, clocking 10.02 and a 10.07 in prelims before Petersen posted a 9.94 and Jensen a 10.39 in the final to secure valuable team points. On the men's side, the 60m hurdles featured sophomore Cade Tavares (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), who advanced through prelims in 8.49 before finishing third overall in the final with an 8.64.
Suppa doubled back in the 60m dash and delivered another dominant performance. After leading prelims in 7.81, she exploded to a 7.69 in the final to win the event outright and set a new school record in the process. Freshman Kayla Cavalieri reached the final as well, finishing seventh overall with an 8.44 after running 8.49 in prelims.
The women's 200m saw junior Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills) lead the charge, capturing first place with a 26.51. Sophomore Lilly Messler (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) added a fifth-place effort (27.76), while Amelia Petersen (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) and Cavalieri contributed additional finishes to round out a strong sprint showing.
Utica controlled the women's 400m, going 1-2 as sophomore Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) won the event in 1:03.40 and Messler followed closely behind in 1:03.66. Junior Olivia Jensen (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) also scored with a 1:05.63 effort. The men's 400m produced a strong performance from sophomore Riley Smith (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland Central), who placed second in 52.41. Jack Holland (Broadalbin-Perth, NY/Broadalbin-Perth), Cameron Hoffis (Queensbury, NY/Lake George), and Frank D'Angelo () all landed inside the top five to showcase Utica's sprint depth.
In middle distance action, freshman Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) paced the Pioneers in the 800m, placing third in 2:33.47. Caroline Young, Emma Charboneau (Fultonville, NY/Fonda-Fultonville), Kamryn Williams (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills), and Courtney Pettit all added scoring depth. In the men's 800m, junior Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central) (1:58.70) and senior Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) (1:59.31) both placed third and fourth, respectively. Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville), Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central), and Tyler Thorngren (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) followed close behind.
Freshman Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) captured the men's mile title in 4:35.50, leading a pack of Pioneers that included Joseph Santiago (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam), Ben Bellinger, Jack Centola (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas), and Aidan Ferguson (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor), all of whom finished inside the top seven. Over in the women's mile, Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) turned in an impressive runner-up finish, crossing in 5:26.70 to grab eight team points.
Utica's relay squads also made noise, as the 4x400 team of Zechariah Bolos (Clinton, NY/Clinton), D'Angelo, Leotta, and Smith took first overall in 3:35.95.
The throws crew once again proved to be a difference-maker. In the women's shot put, sophomore Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) delivered a toss of 12.43m to take first place. Junior Riley King (Oswego, NY/Oswego) placed second (11.25m), while senior Ranasia Bailey (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown) added points with a 10.03m throw. On the men's side, freshman Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) won the event with a 14.58m toss. Edward Haeffer placed third (12.30m).
The weight throw saw Utica dominate the podium, as junior Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) won with a 14.99m toss. Cary (14.98m) and King (14.85m) followed in second and third, respectively, while Bailey and Zeno Mummer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) added additional scoring throws to cap a massive team effort in the circle. On the men's side, Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) claimed first with a new school record mark of 18.34m, while Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) followed in second with a toss of 17.51m. Michael Christensen (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island), Michael Blenis (Norwich, NY/Norwich), and Haeffer all added scoring marks as Utica piled up points in the event.
The Pioneers will now turn their attention to postseason action, with the Empire 8 Championships being held on February 27 and 28, hosted by Nazareth University. Start time from Rochester, NY on day one is set for 2pm, while the start time on day two is set for 11am.
