Men's Indoor Track and Field | 2/23/2024 8:33:11 PM
Utica University holds a slight lead after Friday’s action at the 2024 Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship, held at the Kerr Pegula Field House on the campus of Houghton University.
The Pioneers, who are looking for their first league title, have 70 team points, eight ahead of defending champion Nazareth University. St. John Fisher University is third overall with 44 points and host Houghton is right behind in fourth with 27.
All-American Hunter Logan of Utica, who is among the top throwers in the nation, won the shot put for the third consecutive season with a toss of 16.01 meters.
Cade Eells of Nazareth won the mile for the second straight season in a time of 4:29.23, winning by just over a second over Amos Bixler of Houghton.
Nazareth’s Michael Puglisi took the 400-meter dash in a blanket finish, finishing just five one-hundredths of a second ahead of runner-up Tanner Warren of Utica and 14 one-hundredths of a second in front of third place finisher Andrew Hadasz, also of Utica.
Houghton's Caleb Kasper won the 5,000-meters for the second straight season, finishing seven seconds ahead of the field in a time of 15:25.14.
Hayden Penna of St. John Fisher won the pole vault, clearing 4.55 meters, while teammate Matthew Stasiw took the long jump for the second straight season with a leap of 6.68 meters.
Utica’s distance medley relay team of Tobias Jeralds, Jonathan Simmons, Timothy Jeralds, Bennett Melita emerged victorious by a second and a half in a time of 10:43.37.
Utica’s Andrew Wieder holds a 116-point lead over Jack Pomykaj in the heptathlon after four events Friday. The group will compete in the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault and 1,000-meters Saturday to crown a league champion.
Action resumes on Saturday at 10 a.m.
2024 E8 Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship Team Scores
Utica – 70
Nazareth – 62
St. John Fisher – 44
Houghton – 27
Alfred – 12
Russell Sage – 1
Hartwick – 1
Friday Men’s Event Winners
Mile run: Cade Eells, Nazareth – 4:26.13
400-meter dash: Michael Puglisi, Nazareth – :50.73
5,000-meter run: Caleb Kasper, Houghton – 15:25.14
Distance medley relay: Tobias Jeralds, Jonathan Simmons, Timothy Jeralds, Bennett Melita, Utica – 10:43.37
Pole Vault: Hayden Penna, St. John Fisher – 4.55 meters (14’ 11”)
Shot Put: Hunter Logan, Utica – 16.01 meters (52’ 6.5”)
Long Jump: Matthew Stasiw, St. John Fisher – 6.68 meters (21’ 11”)