Ithaca Seeks Fourth Straight Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track & Field Title
Ithaca College has captured the past three conference championships and looks to repeat as conference champions at the 2011 Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship on
Sunday at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Seniors Jeff Wetmore and Kyle Devins of the Bombers were named Track Athlete of the Meet
and Field Athlete of the Meet, respectively, at last year’s indoor championship. Devins set
Empire 8 championship records in capturing the long jump and triple jump with the triple jump
win marking his third consecutive championship victory in the event. Wetmore won the 200-meter
dash and placed second in the 55-meter dash.
Senior Max Orenstein of Ithaca was named 2009-10 Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the
Year and was also named NYSCTC Track Athlete of the Year. He won state titles in the 55- and
200-meter dashes.
Senior Michael Dempsey of RIT was selected as last year’s Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track Field
Athlete of the Year after placing second at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field
Championships. He also won the event in the ECAC, NYSCTC, and Empire 8 championship
meets. Senior Brian Walker broke his own school record in the weight throw earlier this month
to earn Empire 8 Athlete of the Week honors.
Either Ithaca or RIT has won each of the seven indoor men’s championships. The Bombers have
won four titles, while the Tigers captured three consecutive titles from 2005-2007.
Mohamed Abuouf of Stevens Institute of Technology won the 55-meter hurdles at the Wesleyan
Cardinal Invitational this past week and qualified for the ECAC Championships.
Senior Shawn Ross of Alfred University won his second consecutive Empire 8 shot put
championship last year and has earned all-conference honors in the event in all three of his
appearances. Sophomore Mike Raplee placed second in the same event a year ago, giving
the Saxons five of the six all-conference throwers in the event since 2008. An Alfred thrower
has won the event every year since 2006.
Freshman Breiten Balschmiter became the first Utica national qualifier when he met the
NCAA provisional mark in the shot put at the RIT Invitational.
Freshman Jake Lafaver was the top Nazareth College finisher at the recent Hamilton Invitational,
finishing second in the 400-meter dash.
For more information on the championship and a schedule of events, please go to the RIT
web site at: http://www.ritathletics.com/news/2011/1/26/MTRACK_0126111102.aspx