Women's Indoor Track and Field | 1/15/2025 6:51:08 PM
Nazareth University will look to garner its third straight indoor and outdoor Empire 8 Championship, as the 2024-25 women’s track and field season kicks into high gear this month as the second semester gets underway. Empire 8 newcomers SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo make their league debuts this season.
The 2024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Championship will take place at Utica University’s Todd and Jen Hutton Sports and Recreation Center on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1. The 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championships are set to take place at SUNY Brockport’s Bob Boozer Field on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3. Below are two athletes to watch from each institution.
2024-25 Empire 8 Women's Track and Field
Athletes to Watch (Sorted by Institution)
Annabelle Townsend, Alfred, Sr., Middle Distance/Hurdles, Woodsville, NH/Woodsville – Townsend was part of the winning 4 x 800-meter relay team from the 2024 E8 Outdoor Championships. She also was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the E8 Championship and has competed in the indoor pentathlon.
Anne Spila, Alfred, Sr., Multi-Events, Mechanicsburg, PA/Trinity – Spila enters the season as a top contender in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon. She won the heptathlon at the 2024 Outdoor Championship and was fourth in the event at the 2024 All-Athletic Region Outdoor Championship. Spila is also the defending E8 Indoor Champion in the 60-meter hurdles and 4 x 400-meter outdoor relay.
Mia Vizcaino, SUNY Brockport, Gr., Distance, Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley – Vizcaino will be in the mix for All-Empire 8 honors in middle distance events and is currently among the top-20 nationally in the 3,000-meters.
Marissa Wise, SUNY Brockport, Sr., Sprints/Jumps, Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna – Wise is expected to a be a strong contender in sprint events. She was the runner-up in the 400-meters at the 2024 SUNYAC Outdoor Championships and has a personal-best time of 56.97 seconds in the event.
Giovanna Wall, Hartwick, Sr., Sprints/Throws, West Hurley, NY/Onteora – Wall will look to contend in sprints, hurdles and throws. She has a career-best score of 2.630 in the heptathlon.
Julia Weinschreider, Hartwick, Fr., Middle Distance, Williamson, NY/Williamson – Weinschreider will look to earn All-E8 honors in distance events, as she can compete in the mile, 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters.
Zoe Connor, SUNY Geneseo, Gr., Throws, Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville – Connor was a two-time SUNYAC Champion in the outdoor hammer throw and won the event at the 2024 Outdoor All-Atlantic Region Championship. Connor also competed at the 2024 NCAA Championship in the event and will be a top contender in the weight throw and shot put during the indoor season.
Penelope Greene, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Distance, Sag Harbor, NY/Pierson – Greene, who finished third at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships in November, was a three-time All-American in track and field last season, with a fifth place finish in the 5,000-meters at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship and sixth and eighth place finishes in the 10,000-meters and 5,000-meters, respectively at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Victoria Brewster, Houghton, So., Sprints, Montour Falls, NY/Odessa-Montour – Brewster excelled during her debut in 2023-24, winning the 60- and 200-meter titles at the 2024 E8 Indoor Championship and was runner-up in the 100- and 200-meters at the 2024 E8 Outdoor Championship. She was the 2023-24 Empire 8 Indoor Track Rookie of the Year.
Noelle Linenfelser, Houghton, Jr., Middle Distance Grand Island, NY/Grand Island – Linenfelser was the 2023-24 Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Track Athlete of the Championship meet after winning both the 3,000- and 5,000-meter titles. She is also the reigning E8 Outdoor Champion in the 5,000-meters. Linenfelser is coming off a trip to the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Alaina Morley, Nazareth, Sr., Sprints/Jumps, Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon – Morley, a member of the winning 4 x 100-meter relay team at the 2024 E8 Outdoor Championships, is a nine-time All-Empire 8 selection and will look to contend for league titles in the high jump, long jump, 60-, 100- and 200-meter events.
Lea Richard, Nazareth, Sr., Throws, Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls – Richard is a looking to become the first five-time Empire 8 Champion in the indoor weight throw and is a three-time reigning E8 Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the hammer throw. In addition, Richard competed in the weight throw at the 2023 and 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and is Nazareth's record holder in the indoor weight throw (17.97 meters) and outdoor hammer throw (52.14 meters).
Mercedez Cecelia-Storey, Russell Sage, So., Throws, Pine Hill, NY/Onteora – Cecelia-Storey will look to contend for All-E8 accolades in the shot put, weight throw and hammer throw.
Tirzah Spivey, Russell Sage, Jr., Sprints, Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady – Spivey, a 2024 All-Empire 8 selection in tennis, was sixth in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2024 E8 Outdoor Championship.
Veronica Duell, St. John Fisher, Sr., Jumps, Bergen, NY/Bergen – Duell was the Empire 8 Champion in the long jump at the 2024 Outdoor Championship and has competed at two NCAA Indoor Championships (2023 and 2024) and two NCAA Outdoor Championships (2022 and 2023). She will look to earn All-American honors in 2025. She recorded her career best leap of 5.70 meters at the 2023 E8 Outdoor Championships.
Caitlin Voloshen, St. John Fisher, Sr., Distance, Bethlehem, PA/Nazareth Area – Voloshen is the defending Empire 8 Champion in the indoor mile and distance medley relay. She was also second in the 800-meters.
Jade Dening, Utica, Sr., Middle Distance, Remsen, NY/Remsen – Dening was the 2022 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Overall, she is a three-time runner in up in the 800-meters and is a nine-time All-Empire 8 selection.
Nora Devitt, Utica, Jumps, Sr., Jumps/Multi, Beverly, MA/Beverly – Devitt was the 2024 Empire 8 Indoor Field Athlete of the Championship meet after winning both the long jump and triple jump. She was also second in the triple jump at the 2024 All-Atlantic Region Championship with a career-best leap of 11.67 meters. Devitt is a five-time All-Empire 8 selection.
Final 2023-24 Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Results
Nazareth – 193.33 Points – League Champions
Utica – 126
St. John Fisher – 81
Houghton – 66
Alfred – 47.66
Russell Sage – 8
Hartwick – 5
Final 2024 Empire 8 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results
Nazareth – 207 Points – League Champions
Utica – 174
St. John Fisher – 149
Alfred – 73
Houghton – 65
Russell Sage – 9
Hartwick – 4
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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