2025-26 Empire 8 Men's Track and Field Athletes to Watch

Men's Indoor Track and Field | 1/20/2026 11:00:00 AM

SUNY Geneseo will look to earn its second straight indoor and outdoor Empire 8 Champions titles, as the 2025-26 men’s track and field season kicks into high gear this month as the second semester gets underway. 
 
The 2025-26 Empire 8 Indoor Championship will take place at Nazareth University’s Golisano Training Center on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, February 28. The 2026 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 1 and Saturday, May 2. 
 
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Matt Phillips
Daimel Fowler, Jr., Throws, Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker – Fowler competed in all throws in the 2024-25 seasons. His season-highs were 12.81 meters in shot put, 12.97 meters in weight throw and 39.12 meters in discus throw. 

JJ Hodges, So., Sprints, Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West – Hodges had a great debut season in 2024-25. He broke the school-record in indoor 600-meter dash with a time of 1:23.86. In the 2024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Championship he placed 15th in the 400-meter run, and went on to improve his time later in the spring finishing :49.45.
 
SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Ed Jaskulski
Dennis Bobbit, So., Jumps, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's – Bobbit had some top-10 finishes in the Empire 8 Championships in 2024-25. He placed sixth in the Indoor long jump with a distance of 6.61 meters. He was the runner-up at the same meet in the triple jump going 14.08 meters. In the spring, he improved his long jump place and finished fifth and finished the same in triple jump. 
 
Derek Grimshaw, Jr., Sprints, Syracuse, NY/Liverpool – Grimshaw had a fantastic sophomore season in 2024-25. He won the 2024-25 Empire 8 60-meter dash at :06.95, and placed fifth in the 200-meter dash with a :22.39 time. In the spring, He was the 100-meter dash champion.
 
SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Chris Popovici
Ryan Hagan, Jr., Distance, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool – Hagan, a two-time Empire 8 Athlete to Watch, had a stellar sophomore season. He finished indoor earning all-region honors in the Distance Medley Relay, 800-metrr run and the 3,000-Meter Run. He finished outdoor earning all-region honors in the 1,500-Meter Run and the 5,000-Meter Run. He went on to earn all-america honors for both. 
 
Daniel Pagan, So., Multi, Commack, NY/Commack – In his debut season, Pagan impressed in his multi events. He earned all-region nods in Indoor Heptathlon and Outdoor Decathlon. He placed second in the Empire 8 Outdoor Championship in the decathlon earning 6,105 total points.
 
HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Lindsey Kunkel
Noah Curtis, So., Throws, Clinton Corners, NY/Stissing Mountain – In his debut season, Curtis placed in the top-12 in the Empire 8 Outdoor Championships in discus throw at 35.35 meters. He set at personal record at the same meet in the hammer throw with a distance of 32.12 meters. 
 
Will Mensah, So., Sprinter, Cliffwood, NJ/Matawan Regional – During his first season as a Hawk, Mensah competed in the 4x400-meter, 4x800-meter and the distance medley relays in both Empire 8 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. He also posted a :56.82 400-meter time at the E8 Outdoor Championships. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSTY - Head Coach Austin Beauregard
Amos Bixler, Sr., Middle Distance, Dalton, OH/Central Christian– Bixler, a two-time Empire 8 Player to Watch, has two E8 titles under his belt. In 2023-24 he won the indoor 800-meter run and in 2024 he won the outdoor 1,500-meter run. In 2024-25 indoor, Bixler placed fifth in the mile run. He was part of the 2025 outdoor champion team in the 4x800-meter relay. 
 
Kealon Knight, Jr., Sprints, Summit, NJ/Summit – Competing in the 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championships, Knight finished the 100-meter dash with a time of :11.26. He will be an exciting watch during sprint races this season.  
 
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach James Goss
Graeden Heichberger, So., Throws, Springville, NY/Springville Griffith – Heichberger started off his first season as a Golden Flyer on a high note. He recorded a PR in the shot put (15.37m) breaking the program record and earning him all-region indoor accolades. In addition, he placed third in shot put at both the indoor and outdoor Empire 8 Championships. 
 
Michael Puglisi, Sr., Sprints, Charlton, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake – Puglisi earned all-E8 second team honors at the outdoor championships in the 4x800-meter relay. He PR'd in the 800-meter run finishing at 2:04.02. He was an integral part of the Nazareth team in their fourth place Empire 8 finished in 2024-25.
 
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Regan Grube
Dylan Lawless, Sr., Multi, Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland – In 2024-25, Lawless had a record year for the Gators. He broke the Russell Sage decathlon record with 4,924 points at the Empire 8 Outdoor Championships. He also broke the pole vault record at 3.30 meters at RPI. 
 
Christopher Whalen, Fr., Distance, Arlington, VT/Arlington – As a first year, Whalen will be exciting to watch as the season gets going. In the fall,  Whalen competed in cross country and earned Empire 8 Runner of the Week early in the season. 
 
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Geoffrey Grambo
Brandon Kaplan, Sr., Throws, Grahamsville, NY/Tri-Valley Central – Kaplan, the 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, had a fantastic season last year. He set the school record in weight throw with a mark of 17.99 meters. He went on to place first in the same event at the E8 Indoor Championships. He earned all-region accolades for the event. During the outdoor season, he earned all-america honors in the hammer throw, as well as being the E8 Outdoor Champion. 
   
UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach James Lemieux
Joshua Talbot, Sr., Throws, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy – During the indoor season, Talbot placed fifth at the Empire 8 Championships in weight throw with a mark of 16.61 meters. During the outdoor season, Talbot placed third at the Empire 8 Championships in hammer throw. He went on to earn all-region accolades in the event. 
 
Tanner Warren, Jr., Sprints, Mohawk, NY/Central Valley – Warren helped lead Utica to the 4 x 400-meter relay championship at the 2024 E8 Indoor Championship and is a three-time E8 Championship runner-up in sprint events.
 
Final 2024-25 Empire 8 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Results
Geneseo – 234 Points – League Champions
Brockport – 166
St. John Fisher – 86.5
Utica – 83
Nazareth – 59.5
Houghton – 21
Alfred – 10
Hartwick - 2
Russell Sage - 1
 
Final 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results
Geneseo – 303.5 Points – League Champions
Brockport – 199
St. John Fisher – 104
Utica – 94.5
Nazareth – 61
Houghton – 42
Alfred – 25
Russell Sage - 13
Hartwick - 13