Men's Outdoor Track and Field | 5/2/2026 8:39:50 PM
Nationally-ranked SUNY Geneseo won the 2026 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship from the Polisseni Track and Field Campus on the Campus of St. John Fisher University on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2. Geneseo, who won its second straight E8 title, finished with 282 points, while SUNY Brockport finished second with 214 points and host St. John Fisher University was third with 105 points.
The Knights had seven individuals/relay teams win events and set three Empire 8 Championship records.
Junior Derek Grimshaw of SUNY Brockport was named 2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet after winning three sprint events. He took the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.75 seconds (ran prelims in 10.66), 200-meters in 21.81 seconds and was part of the winning 4 x 100-meter relay team that emerged victorious in 41.57 seconds.
Nazareth sophomore Graeden Heichberger was named 2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet. On Saturday, Heichberger set an Empire 8 Championship meet record by winning the shot put with a toss of 16.91 meters (55’ 5.75”), which moved him into 16th nationally in Division III. On Friday, Heichberger finished second in the hammer throw with a toss of 56.48 meters (185’ 4”).
Daniel Pagan of SUNY Geneseo won the decathlon with 6,162 points, just 11 points shy of the E8 Championship mark, held by Nazareth’s Jack Pomykaj. Pomykaj, who entered as two-time defending champion in the event, placed third. Pagan was the top E8 finisher in the 100-meters, high jump, 400-meters and javelin. He was also second in the long jump, shot put and 1,500-meters.
Geneseo’s 4 x 400-meter relay team of Arjun Ojha, Dawson Wadsworth, Sam Belmont and Jacob Miller rolled to a decisive win in the event, smashing the Empire 8 Championship record with a time of 3:13.97.
Sam Belmont of Geneseo set an Empire 8 Championship record, winning the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 52.40, which moved him into a tie for fifth nationally in the event. William Hawken of the Knights took the 110-meter hurdles in 14.75 seconds, while Tim Sheehan won the 800-meter run in 1:52.06.
Brockport’s 4 x 100-meter relay team of Logan Thompson, Derek Grimshaw, Michael Durski, Gabriel Giannini emerged victorious in a snappy time of Burton began the day with a win in 41.57 seconds. Grimshaw won his second straight 100-meter dash and also took the 200-meters.
Alfred University took two individual titles on Saturday. Zion Baitey won the triple jump with a career-best leap of 14.51 meters (47’ 7.25”), which moved him into 19th nationally in Division III. Sekou Camara won the high jump, clearing 1.96 meters.
Daniel Davis emerged victorious in the discus for the second straight season, with a toss of 43.94 meters. Jace Stuart won the 1,500-meters by just over three tenths of a second in 3:56.14.
Utica University standout Bennett Melita took the lead just after the 3,200-meter mark on his way to winning the 5,000-meter run by five seconds in a time of 14:40.47. Geneseo had six of the eight podium finishes in the event.
2026 Empire 8 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship Award Winners
Track Athlete of the Meet – Derek Grimshaw, Jr., Sprints, SUNY Brockport
Field Athlete of the Meet – Graeden Heichberger, So., Throws, Nazareth
2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Final Team Scores
SUNY Geneseo – 282 points
SUNY Brockport – 214
St. John Fisher University – 105
Utica University – 73
Nazareth University – 65
Alfred University – 45
Houghton University – 31
Hartwick College – 29
Russell Sage College – 11
2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Friday)
3,000-meter Steeplechase: Pierce Young, SUNY Geneseo – 8:58.96 *
400-meter dash: Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo – 47.81
4 x 800-meter relay: Frank Calhoun, Bayden Maloney, Eduardo Salinas, Tim Smith, SUNY Brockport – 7:54.11 *
10,000-meter run: Jared Smith, SUNY Brockport – 31:00.92 *
Long Jump: Wayne Spencer, Utica – 7.29 meters (23' 11") *
Hammer Throw: Brandon Kaplan, St. John Fisher – 59.57 meters (195' 5")
Pole Vault: Gabriel Giannini, SUNY Brockport – 4.89 meters (16' 0.5")
Javelin Throw: Allen Reome, SUNY Brockport – 47.43 meters (155' 7")
2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Saturday)
4 x 100-meter relay: Logan Thompson, Derek Grimshaw, Michael Durski, Gabriel Giannini, SUNY Brockport – :41.57
1,500-meter run: Jace Stuart, St. John Fisher – 3:56.81
110-meter hurdles: William Hawken, SUNY Geneseo – :14.75
100-meter dash: Derek Grimshaw, SUNY Brockport - :10.75
800-meter run: Tim Sheehan, SUNY Geneseo – 1:52.06
400-meter hurdles: Sam Belmont, SUNY Geneseo – :52.40 *
200-meter dash: Derek Grimshaw, SUNY Brockport – :21.81
5,000-meter run: Bennett Melita, Utica – 14:40.47
4 x 400-meter relay: Arjun Ojha, Dawson Wadsworth, Sam Belmont, Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo – 3:13.97 *
Shot Put: Graeden Heichberger, Nazareth – 16.91 meters (55’ 5.75”)
Triple Jump: Zion Baitey, Alfred – 14.51 meters (47’ 7.25”)
Discus Throw: Daniel Davis, St. John Fisher – 43.94 meters (144’ 2”)
High Jump: Sekou Camara, Alfred – 1.96 meters (6’ 5”)
Decathlon: Daniel Pagan, SUNY Geneseo – 6,162 points
* Empire 8 Championship Meet Record