Women's Indoor Track and Field | 2/25/2023 2:12:34 PM
Host Nazareth College won its first Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship in program history, taking the 2022-23 E8 title, held at the Golisano Training Center on Feb. 24-25. Nazareth finished with a team total of 192 points, outlasting three-time defending champion St. John Fisher University, who recorded 146.5 points.
The Golden Flyers used a balanced attack throughout the lineup to win their first league title, recording five individual titles.
Houghton senior Amanda Burrichter was named Empire 8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet for the second straight year. She swept the mile and 3,000-meter run championships for the third straight season. Burrichter won the mile in 5:14.19 and took the 3,000-meters in a meet record time of 10:15.82. In addition, she anchored Houghton's winning distanced medley relay team that won by just under three seconds in a time of 13:06.84.
Nazareth graduate student Brenna Johnson earned 2023 Empire 8 Championship Field Athlete of the Meet honors after winning the high jump, clearing 1.57 meters, and also annexing the long jump with a tremendous leap of 5.66 meters.
Johnson also excelled on the track side, winning the 60-meter dash in an Empire 8 meet record time of 7.814 seconds, was second in the 200-meters (25.99 seconds), third in the 400-meters (59.47 seconds) and was part of the 4 x 400-meter relay team that placed second overall.
On Saturday, Ciarra Franz of St. John Fisher won the 60-meter hurdles in a meet record time of 8.97 seconds. Fisher's 4 x 400-meter relay team of Grace Wright, Emma Wright, Brenda Le and Samantha Shea set a meet record in winning the event by just over seven seconds in 4:02.83.
Utica standout Mackenzie Mix won the 200-meters in 25.69 seconds. Teammate Laura Meade won the triple jump with a leap of 11.29 meters.
Alfred's Olivia Gilbert emerged victorious in the 800-meters, crossing the finish line first in 2:26.48.
Nazareth junior Lea Richard won her third consecutive championship in the weight throw with an impressive toss of 16.87 meters.
Below are all of the team scores in addition to individual and relay winners during the weekend’s events.
2022-23 Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship Team Scores
Nazareth - 192
St. John Fisher - 146.5
Utica - 81
Houghton - 57
Alfred - 39.5
Hartwick - 8
Russell Sage - 3
2022-23 Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship Individual Award Winners
Track Athlete of the Meet: Amanda Burrichter, Sr., Houghton
Field Athlete of the Meet: Brenna Johnson, Gr., Nazareth
2022-23 Empire 8 Indoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Friday)
Mile run: Amanda Burrichter, Houghton – 5:14.19
400-meter dash: Samantha Shea, St. John Fisher – :57.87
5,000-meter run: Lauren DeMichele, St. John Fisher – 18:35.12
Distance medley relay: Noelle Linenfelser, Alexandria Wisniewski, Kyra Binney, Amanda Burrichter, Houghton– 13:06.84
Pole Vault: Isabel Morse, Nazareth – 3.40 meters
Shot Put: Jane Fahy, Utica – 13.24 meters
Long Jump: Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – 5.66 meters
Pentathlon: Laura Meade, Utica – 2,955 points
2022-23 Empire 8 Indoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Saturday)
60-meter dash: Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – :7.814
60-meter hurdles: Ciarra Franz, St. John Fisher – :8.97
200-meter dash: Mackenzie Mix, Utica – :25.69
800-meter run: Olivia Gilbert, Alfred – 2:26.48
3,000-meter run: Amanda Burrichter, Houghton – 10:15.82 (Meet Record)
4 x 400-meter relay: Grace Wright, Emma Wright, Brenda Le, Samantha Shea, St. John Fisher – 4:02.83 (Meet Record)
High jump: Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – 1.57 meters
Triple jump: Laura Meade, Utica – 11.29 meters
Weight throw: Lea Richard, Nazareth – 16.87 meters
2022-23 Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship Individual Award Winners
Track Athlete of the Meet: Amanda Burrichter, Jr., Houghton
Field Athlete of the Meet: Sarah Merriwether, Jr., Nazareth