Women's Indoor Track and Field | 3/19/2021 7:48:45 PM
St. John Fisher won its second consecutive Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship in dramatic fashion, holding off fellow East Ave. rival Nazareth College by just two points in the 2021 edition, 160-158, held at Nazareth’s Golisano Training Center on March 19. It is the closest finish in Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship history since the event began in 2004.
The Cardinals led 91-65 during the early session before Nazareth came roaring back in the afternoon, winning six of the final nine events to cut the Fisher lead to four entering the final event, the 4 x 400-meter relay. The Golden Flyers rolled to an 11-second win in the event but a late kick by St. John Fisher’s Olivia Pawlewicz allowed St. John Fisher to re-take second place in the event and hang on for the team win.
The Cardinals used a balanced attack throughout the lineup. Sophomore McKenna Cone won the 60-meter hurdles, while classmate Riley Corey rolled to her second straight Empire 8 Championship victory in the 5,000-meters. St. John Fisher’s distance medley relay team of Chelsea Lamphere, Breanna Lambert, Marinna Raqueno, Alivia Collins emerged victorious, while junior pole vaulter Alondra Arroyo and first-year standout high jumper Michaela Kurbs each won their respective events.
St. John Fisher’s Jordan Lehman garnered Empire 8 Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet accolades after finishing second in both the weight throw (14.58 meters) and shot put (11.54 meters).
Host Nazareth enjoyed their best finish in E8 program history. Brenna Johnson won three individual events (60-meters, 200-meters and 400-meters) and was part of the winning 4x400-meter relay team to earn Track Athlete of the Meet honors. First-year standout Hannah Ragule was named Rookie of the Meet after winning the triple jump, while finishing third in the long jump, fifth in the high jump and fifth in the 60-meter hurdles.
Houghton’s Amanda Burrichter was a dual event winner, annexing the mile run (5:39.67), while rallying to earn a stirring victory in the 3,000-meters (10:47.67).
Below are all of the team scores in addition to individual and relay winners from the 2021 Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championship. It was the league’s first championship held in any sport in over a calendar year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Results
St. John Fisher – 160 points
Nazareth - 158
Utica – 66
Houghton – 48
Alfred – 41
Russell Sage – 23
2021 Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship Individual Award Winners
Track Athlete of the Meet: Brenna Johnson, Nazareth
Field Athlete of the Meet: Jordan Lehman, St. John Fisher
Rookie of the Meet: Hannah Ragule, Nazareth
Co-Coach of the Year: Mike Henchen, St. John Fisher
Co-Coach of the Year: James Goss, Nazareth
2021 Empire 8 Indoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners
60-meter dash – Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – :8.06
60-meter hurdles – McKenna Cone, St. John Fisher, St. John Fisher – :9.70
200-meter dash – Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – :27.35
400-meter dash – Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – 1:01.56
800-meter run – Elizabeth Decker, Nazareth – 2:25.30
Mile run – Amanda Burrichter, Houghton – 5:39.67
3,000-meter run – Amanda Burrichter, Houghton – 10:47.67
5,000-meter run – Riley Corey, St. John Fisher – 18:37.48
4 x 400-meter relay – Lauren Bendall, Elizabeth Decker, Abbey Szumloz, Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – 4:16.49
Distance Medley relay – Chelsea Lamphere, Breanna Lambert, Marinna Raqueno, Alivia Collins, St. John Fisher – 13:48.40
Pole Vault – Alondra Arroyo, St. John Fisher – 2.90 meters
High jump – Hayden Williamson, Houghton – 1.56 meters
Long Jump – Michaela Kurbs, St. John Fisher – 5.08 meters
Triple jump – Hannah Ragule, Nazareth – 10.65 meters
Shot Put – Jane Fahy, Utica – 12.33 meters
Weight throw – Lea Richard, Nazareth – 15.11 meters
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
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