Women's Outdoor Track and Field | 5/6/2023 5:49:51 PM
Nazareth College won its first Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship, holding off two-time defending champion St. John Fisher University to win the 2023 team title from Pioneer Turf and Track and Field Complex on the Campus of Utica University on May 5-6. The Golden Flyers finished with 212 team points, 13 ahead of the Cardinals. Utica placed third with 108 points.
The Golden Flyers had eight individuals/relay teams win events and had several student-athletes earn personal records over the two-day meet.
Nazareth senior Brenna Johnson was named 2023 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet after winning the 100-meter dash with an impressive time of 12.19 seconds. She was also part of the winning 4 x 400-meter relay team that crossed the finish line in 4:07.57. Johnson was also the runner-up in both the 200- and 400-meter dash events and was part of the 4 x 100-meter relay team that placed second. Johnson set personal records in all three sprint events. She also won the high jump, clearing 1.61 meters and was third in the long jump.
Utica graduate student Laura Meade was named the 2023 Empire 8 Women's Outdoor Championship Field Athlete of the Meet after winning the heptathlon with a score of 3,977 points, while placing third in the triple jump (11.20 meters), fifth in the javelin throw (24.79 meters) and sixth in the long jump (5.34 meters). On the track side, Meade placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles. Meade won the Empire 8’s first heptathlon since 2007 and was the top finisher in the 100-meter hurdles, 200-meters and long jump.
Johnson was a three-time winner on Saturday, helping Nazareth win the team title. She began the day with a win in the 100-meter dash, crossing the finish line first in 12.19 seconds. Johnson followed that up as a member of Nazareth’s winning 4 x 400-meter relay team that won in a time of 4:07.57 and took the high jump by clearing 1.61 meters.
The St. John Fisher duo of Ciarra Franz and Samantha Shea combined to win five titles. Franz and Shea were both members of Fisher's 4 x 100-meter relay team, while Franz also rolled to a win in the 100-meter hurdles. Shea also won the 400-meter dash on Friday and took the 200-meter dash on Saturday.
St. John Fisher’s Makenna King became a two-time E8 Champion, winning the discus throw for the second straight season with a throw of 40.80 meters.
Houghton’s Amanda Burrichter won two events on Saturday. She took the 1,500-meters in a time of 4:55.16 and won the 5,000-meters in 18:38.10. She also won the outdoor E8 title in the 1,500-meters in 2021. Houghton also received a win from Alexandria Wisniewski in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:07.87.
Nazareth’s Abbey Szumloz was a part of the winning 4 x 800-meter relay team on Friday and winning 4 x 400-meter relay squad Saturday.
Alfred’s Olivia Gilbert rolled to a win in the 800-meters, crossing the finish line in 2:18.24.
Utica’s Jane Fahy won her second straight E8 title in the shot put with a toss of 13.50 meters.
2023 Empire 8 Women's Outdoor Track and Field Final Team Scores
Nazareth College - 212
St. John Fisher University - 199
Utica University - 108
Alfred University - 77
Houghton University - 70
Russell Sage College - 13
Hartwick College - 3
2023 Empire 8 Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship Award Winners
Track Athlete of the Meet -– Brenna Johnson, Gr., Sprints/Jumps, Nazareth College
Field Athlete of the Meet – Laura Meade, Gr., Multi-Jumps, Utica University
Friday Women’s Event Winners
3,000-meter Steeplechase: Emily Weaver, Nazareth – 11:35.33 ^
400-meter dash: Samantha Shea, St. John Fisher – 56.99 ^
4 x 800-meter relay: Isabella Heath, Leigha Gould, Paige Ackley, Abbey Szumloz, Nazareth – 10:02.79
10,000-meter run: Lauren DeMichele, St. John Fisher – 38:49.51 *^
Long Jump: Michaela Kurbs, St. John Fisher – 5.93 meters (19' 5 1/2") *
Hammer Throw: Lea Richard, Nazareth – 49.58 meters (162' 8")
Pole Vault: Isabel Morse, Nazareth – 3.40 meters (11' 1 3/4")
Javelin Throw: Abigail Nuzzo, Houghton – 33.57 meters (110' 1")
Saturday Women’s Event Winners
4 x 100-meter relay: Michaela Kurbs, Samantha Shea, Zhane Lettsome, Ciarra Franz, St. John Fisher – :47.71 *^
1,500-meter run: Amanda Burrichter, Houghton – 4:55.16
100-meter hurdles: Ciarra Franz, St. John Fisher – :14.45
100-meter dash: Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – :12.19
800-meter run: Olivia Gilbert, Alfred – 2:18.24 ^
400-meter hurdles: Alexandria Wisniewski, Houghton – 1:07.87 ^
200-meter dash: Samantha Shea, St. John Fisher – :25.35
5,000-meter run: Amanda Burrichter, Houghton – 18:38.10
4 x 400-meter relay: Shiana Susa, Abbey Szumloz, Lauren Bendall, Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – 4:07.57 ^
Discus Throw: Makenna King, St. John Fisher – 40.80 meters (133' 10")
High Jump: Brenna Johnson, Nazareth – 1.61 meters (5' 3 1/4")
Shot Put: Jane Fahy, Utica – 13.50 meters (44' 3 1/2")
Triple Jump: Isabella Heath, Nazareth – 11.27 meters
Heptathlon: Laura Meade, Utica – 3,977 points
* Empire 8 Championship Record
^ Utica Pioneer Turf and Track and Field Complex Record
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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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