Just Ducky! Stevens Captures Both Men's and Women's Titles at Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championships

2/24/2019 12:26:05 AM

RESULTS
Stevens took home both the Men's and Women's Empire 8 Conference titles at the 2019 Indoor Track & Field Championships, which wrapped up earlier today. For full results from the championships, as well as the individual honors, please see below 

MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
The Stevens men's track and field team won its first-ever Empire 8 Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship Saturday after totaling 106 points over the final nine events to finish atop of the seven-team field. 

The Ducks scored in all nine events and finished the two-day meet with points in 15 of the 16 events. With the Ducks winning both the men's and women's team championship, Stevens became the third program to sweep the indoor championships, joining Ithaca College and Rochester Institute of Technology. Hosting Utica finished second with 162 points, while St. John Fisher placed third with 116.

"As a coaching staff, we are so proud of our men's team for winning their first-ever Empire 8 Indoor Conference Title," said head coach Lance Harden.  "We brought 30 student-athletes to the meet and every single young man contributed in some way. It was a total team effort, and we needed it to beat a very talented and deep Utica squad."

"We had several men score in multiple events and I would like to personally recognize a handful of them for their efforts," Harden continued. "Alex Kainer was a workhorse for us in the sprints and he turned in his two best-paced 400-meter races this season. Trevor LaDue helped both of our relays to victory with strong legs and then he earned a well-deserved individual title in the 800. Evan Kainer scored for us in four events in three different event groups, showcasing his versatility, speed, and technical acumen. Jake Catalano scored in all three distance events, racing 9,609 meters over two days."

Kainer captured conference championships in the 60-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and joining junior Daniel Kaba, freshman LaDue and junior Nicholas DiMaria in finishing first in the 4x400-meter relay, while also placing second in the 400-meter dash. The performance earned the South Brunswick, New Jersey native Track Athlete of the Meet honors. Kainer became just the third Duck to receive Athlete of the Meet recognition. Kainer successfully defended his 2018 individual title in the 60 and the 200 and Stevens' E8 crown in the 4x400 was just the second in program history.

"It was a great meet with a lot of people stepping up to score points for the team," Kainer shared. "Championship meets are more about places and points than times and the team really stepped up today."

"It was the first time the men won the conference [title], which made the experience even better," Kainer continued. 

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Stevens captured its second straight Empire 8 Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship Saturday after totaling 85 points over the final nine events to finish atop of the seven-team field.

The Ducks scored in eight of the nine events and finished the two-day meet with points in 15 of the 16 events. Stevens captured the program's first-ever indoor title one season ago. Utica finished second with 120 points, while St. John Fisher placed third with 82 points. 

Gina Dello Russo was named Track Athlete of the Meet for the third straight year after posting five individual victories. She became the second three-time winner in conference history. The Whippany, New Jersey native posted first-place finishes in the 60-meter dash, the 200 and 400-meter dashes, the high jump and the pole vault. Dello Russo also joined junior Melissa Barnes, graduate Samantha Rokicsak and junior Claire Tantillo in placing second in the 4x400-meter relay. 

"Every person on the team stepped up this weekend," Dello Russo offered. "The energy that everyone had was outstanding and all the support from both the men's and women's teams fueled us to continue scoring points across the board especially in unexpected places.

"Gina competed in four events both days, earned five victories, and scored 56 points," Harden added. "She is the heart and soul of our team, and she gives 100% effort every time she steps on the track. Our entire coed team feeds off of her energy and commitment."

After two victories Friday, Dello Russo topped the eight-woman field in the 60-meter dash with a school record time of 7.91 seconds to become Stevens' first conference champion in the event. The time is the seventh-fastest time in the Atlantic Region and matched Dello Russo's performance in the preliminary heat. Dello Russo also won the 200-meter dash with a meet-, and facility-, record time of 25.14 seconds.The conference championship in the 200 was Dello Russo's third straight.

After victories in the 5k and the mile on Friday, senior Mary Visca earned her third victory of the championship, taking first in the 3,000 with a time of 10:41.17 to repeat as conference champion. Sophomore Kristin McAtee finished second and freshman Trinity Lundemo took third as Stevens swept the top three finishes in the race. Both McAtee and Lundemo set PRs in the race, while Visca captured multiple indoor titles for the second consecutive season. The sweep clinched the team title for the Ducks.

"It was just a total team effort," Visca added. "People stepped up and placed higher than they were expected to. It was hard not to run well because the energy in the track was electric; everyone was supporting and cheering for one another, regardless of gender."

In the field events, Dello Russo topped the field in the high jump, posting a personal-best height of 1.56 meters, while Katie Weeks followed up on her meet record in the shot put, by finishing first in the weight throw of 17.54 meters on her first throw. 

Men's Track Athlete of the Meet - Alex Kainer, Stevens
Women's Track Athlete of the Meet - Gina Dello Russo, Stevens
Men's Field Athlete of the Meet - Ka'Sean Watlington, Utica
Women's Field Athlete of the Meet - Alycia Eaton, Nazareth

Men's Team Scores
1. Stevens - 172
2. Utica - 162
3. St. John Fisher - 116
4. Houghton - 26
5. Alfred - 11
6. Nazareth - 9
7. Hartwick - 0

Women's Team Scores
1. Stevens - 159
2. Utica - 120
3. St. John Fisher - 82
4. Nazareth - 79
5. Houghton - 41
6. Alfred - 15
7. Hartwick - 0

- Information for this release provided by the athletic communication staff at Stevens - 

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and https://youtu.be/wzL4HcDoUUQ