TROY, NY - The Utica University track and field team traveled out to Troy on Friday afternoon for their final meet action ahead of next weekend's Empire 8 Championships. Despite the one-day timeframe for the event, the Pioneers showed up and showed out, as the team secured four new school records., The squad also saw a pair of top-five finishes on the team side, as the men finished fifth with 56 points, and the women finished fourth with 78 points.

The quartet of Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills), Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville), Eddy Corporan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C Ketcham), and Genna McCallum (Mora, MN/Indian River) all took home new program bests, with nearly all of the records coming during a strong second half of the event. The strong back half of the day gives the Pioneers tons of momentum heading into next weekend's Empire 8 Championships.

PROGRAM RECORDS
Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills) - 800m - 2nd - 2:19.29
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) - 1500m - 8th - 3:54.76
Eddy Corporan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C Ketcham) - 800m - 4th - 1:54.20
Genna McCallum (Mora, MN/Indian River) - Pole Vault - 1st - 3.35m

PROGRAM TOP 10'S
#3 Cate Manna - 1500m - 7th - 4:54.63
#3 Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) - 400m Hurdles - 2nd - 1:05.92
#3 Wayne Spencer (Rochester, NY/Padilla (Franklin Campus)) - Long Jump - 2nd - 7.01m
#6 Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) - 1500m - 7th - 4:05.47
#8 Ranasia Bailey (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown) - Javelin Throw - 3rd - 31.05m

FIRST PLACE FINISHERS
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) - Women's Shot Put - 13.39m
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) - Women's Discus - 42.69m
Genna McCallum (Mora, MN/Indian River) - Women's Pole Vault - 3.35m
Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) - Men's Hammer Throw - 55.90m

To lead off the event, the Pioneers' top strongman Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) took home the gold in the Men's Hammer Throw, dispelling all competitors, including a few participants from Division I University of Albany. Borghardt would launch a 55.90m toss on his second attempt of the day to take first place by .33m over Albany thrower Qualiar Newton.

In the accompanying Women's Hammer Throw, the trio of Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Hailey Hrouda (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham), and Ranasia Bailey (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown) would finish in the top 10. Cary grabbed fourth with a 46.79m, Hrouda took sixth with a 43.82m, and Bailey secured ninth with a 39.68m. 

Although Cary didn't take the top spot in the Hammer Throw, the Pioneers' Ironwoman would get the job done in both the Discus and Shot Put, landing a 42.69m toss in the Discus and a 13.39m in the Shot Put, taking home first in both. 

In the Men's Shot Put, freshman Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) had an excellent showing, getting second place out of 40 with a 14.02m toss. The rookie hurler was only defeated by University of Albany senior Frankie Gonzalez, an outstanding outing for Hewitt.

Genna McCallum (Mora, MN/Indian River) would grant the Pioneers another gold medal, as she set a new program record en route to a top finish in the Women's Pole Vault. McMallum finally broke through, breaking her tie with the previous all-time best as she notched a 3.35m. 

Later on, Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) would do well in the Javelin Throw, placing sixth in a competitive field of 26, landing a 44.95m throw.

In the Women's Javelin, the trio of Ranasia Bailey (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown), MarLie Macek (Kensington, NH/Exeter), and Amanda Hausle (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) all achieved a top six finish. Bailey grabbed third place with a 31.05m, Macekl fifth with a 28.20m, and Hausle with a 27.18m. 

Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) also had a solid showing in the Men's 1500m, as the freshman runner secured seventh place with a 4:05.47.

Wayne Spencer (Rochester, NY/Padilla (Franklin Campus)) was centimeters away from victory in the Men's Long Jump, instead settling for second place in a top four that consisted of three Albany jumpers. Spencer logged a 7.01m leap on his third. 

The second school record that fell in the afternoon was courtesy of Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills), as the sophomore sprinter took home second place in the 800m, only falling to Siena's Avery Kozerski. McClendon set the new all-time mark with a time of 2:19.29.

In the accompanying Men's 800m, Eddy Corporan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C Ketcham) notched a program record of his own, finishing with a time of 1:54.20 in addition to grabbing fourth place out of 50.

Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) did well in the Women's 400m Hurdles, taking second place with a time of 1:05.92.

Finally, to wrap up the event, Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) achieved the team's fourth and final program record of the afternoon, finishing with a 3:54.76 in the 1500m to snag another all-time mark.

Up Next: The Pioneers will now gear up for the Empire 8 Outdoor Championships, which will take place on the campus of St. John Fisher next weekend. Day one will begin at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1st, with day two scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 2nd.