Men's Indoor Track and Field | 1/17/2024 1:18:53 PM
Nazareth University will look to earn its second straight indoor and outdoor Empire 8 Championship, as the 2023-24 track and field season kicks into high gear this month as the second semester gets underway. The 2023-24 Empire 8 Indoor Championship will take place at Houghton University’s Kerr-Pegula Field House on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24. The 2024 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championships are set to take place at St. John Fisher University’s Polisseni Track and Field Complex on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. Below are two athletes to watch from each institution.
Athletes to Watch (Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
Jason Crocker Alfred, Jr., Throws, Oreland, PA/Springfield Township – Crocker was fourth in the shot put at the 2023 Empire 8 Indoor Championships and was fifth at the 2023 Outdoor Championship. He will also contend in the discus and hammer throw events.
John Wendt, Alfred, Sr., Sprints, Lewistown, NY/Lewsiton-Porter – Wendt is expected to contend in the sprint events at the E8 Championships. He was part of the 4 x 100-meter relay team that placed third at the 2023 E8 Outdoor Championship.
Joe Catalano, Hartwick, Jr., Sprints, Chester, NY/Chester Academy – Catalano excelled for the Hawks in the 200- and 400-meter events last season and will contend for All-Empire 8 honors in both during the 2024 season.
Patrick Conteh, Hartwick, So., Sprints, Salisbury, MD/Parkside – Conteh will be a strong contender in the 60-meter dash on the indoor side and 100- and 200-yard sprints during the outdoor season.
Caleb Kasper, Houghton, Jr., Distance, Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park – Kasper expected to lead Houghton’s distance runners in 2024. He won the 10,000-meters at the 2023 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship and 5,000-meters at the 2023 E8 Indoor Championship. In addition, Kasper is a two-time All-Empire 8 first team selection in cross country and helped Houghton win the 2023 league title.
Zach Tucker, Houghton, So., Distance, Fillmore, NY/Fillmore – Tucker earned runner-up honors in the 5,000-meter run at the 2023 Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships and will contend in all distance events this season. He placed fourth at the 2023 E8 Cross Country Championship to help Houghton win its first league title.
Jack Pomykaj, Nazareth, So., Multi-Events, Castleton, NY/Maple Hill – Pomykaj was the Empire 8 Champion in the decathlon at the 2023 Outdoor Championship, helping guide Nazareth to its first league title. He was also third at the All-Atlantic Region Championships. He will also be a strong contender in the pole vault and long jump events.
Kaleb Luton, Nazareth, Gr., Hurdles/Jumps, Amherst, NY/Sweet Home – Luton is the two-time defending E8 Indoor Champion in the indoor 60-meter hurdles , 110-meter outdoor hurdles and competed at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles. He was also the 2021-22 E8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Luton will also be a strong contender in both the long and triple jump events this season. He has a career-best leap of 13.75 meters in the triple jump.
David Adadjo, Russell Sage, Jr., Sprints/Jumps, Nassau, NY/Columbia – Adadjo finished third in the 400-meters, fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the 200-meters at the 2022 Empire 8 Indoor Championships. He is expected to contend in all three events during the 2024 indoor and outdoor seasons.
Chris Pellegrini, Russell Sage, So., Middle Distance, Loudonville, NY/Colonie – Pellegrini is expected to lead the charge for Russell Sage in the 800-meters this season and look to earn an All-E8 honor.
Ethan Billings, St. John Fisher, Sr., Distance, Wantage, NJ/High Point Regional – Billings won the individual title at the 2022 Empire 8 Cross Country Championships and was the league champion in the 5,000-meters at the 2022 E8 Indoor Track Championships. He is a three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection in cross country and will contend for league titles in all long distance events during the 2024 indoor and outdoor track seasons.
Sean Cochrane, St. John Fisher, Sr., High Jump, Avon, NY/Avon – Cochrane is a four-time runner-up in the high jump at the Empire 8 Championships and will look to earn his first league title this season. He recorded a career-best leap of 2.03 meters to kick off the 2023-24 indoor season, which is among the best in Division III to date.
Andy Hadasz, Utica, Jr., Sprints, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro – Hadasz won four Empire 8 Championships in 2022-23, taking the 200-meter indoor title and outdoor crowns in the 200-, 400- and 4 x 100-meter events. He has emerged as a top E8 sprinter and is among the current national leaders in the indoor 200-meter event.
Hunter Logan, Utica, Sr., Throws, Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain – Logan earned All-American honors in the shot put at both the 2022 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships and will be a strong contender for a national championship this season. He is also the two-time defending E8 Champion in both the indoor and outdoor shot put events.
Final 2022-23 Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Results
Nazareth – 178 Points – League Champions
Utica – 151
St. John Fisher – 104
Houghton – 49
Russell Sage – 20
Alfred – 20
Hartwick – 1
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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