Men’s Outdoor Track and Field | 5/4/2024 8:02:53 PM

Utica University won the 2024 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship, rallying in the final events to catch defending champion Nazareth University to win the team title from the Polisseni Track and Field Complex on the Campus of St. John Fisher University on May 3-4. The Pioneers finished with 213 team points, 11 ahead of the Nazareth. Host St. John Fisher University placed third with 121 points.
 
The Pioneers had five individuals/relay teams win events and had several student-athletes earn personal records over the two-day meet. Utica won the E8 title for the second time in the past three seasons and fourth time in program history.
 
Runner-up swept the individual awards, as junior Cade Eells was named the 2024 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship Track Athlete of the Meet, while sophomore Jack Pomykaj was named the Field Athlete of the Meet.
 
Eells set a new meet record in winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday, recording a time of 9:18.54. On Saturday, he placed second in the 1,500-meters with a time of 4:05.83 and was third in the 5,000-meters, hitting the finish line in 15:31.25
 
Pomykaj enjoyed a tremendous weekend, setting a new Empire 8 meet record in winning the decathlon with 5.954 points. In addition, he was second in the long jump with a leap of 6.71 meters, placed third in the pole vault, clearing with 4.30 meters and was also part of the 4 x 100-meter relay team that crossed the finish line second in 43.01 seconds.
 
Utica’s Hunter Logan won his third straight league title in the shot put with a meet-record toss of 16.39 meters. Fellow Utica standout Andy Hadasz won both the 100- and 200-meter dash events for the second straight season. He took the 100-meters in 10.78 seconds and 200-meters in 22.04 seconds.
 
The Pioneers began the day with a win in the 4 x 100-meter relay, as Nyles Rogers, Hadasz, Connor Dean and Ethan Kain picked up the win in 42.38 seconds. Utica ended the day by securing crucial points in the high jump, as Kaiden McCaskill picked up the win with a leap of 1.94 meters and Louis Pinto was third.
 
John Ruggio of St. John Fisher won the 400-meter hurdles title for the fourth straight year, earning a personal-best time of 55.83 seconds.
 
Nazareth won five individual events and a relay Saturday to maintain its lead over the Pioneers. Patrick Healy won both the 800- and 1,500-meters on Saturday, while Cade Eells took the 5,000-meters for his second individual win of the weekend. Jack Pomykaj won the Empire 8’s first decathlon since 2007, with a score of 5,493 points.
 
Houghton senior Caleb Kasper earned his second long distance win of the weekend, taking the 5,000-meters in 15:18.03. Teammate Amos Bixler rallied late to win the 1,500-meters in 4:02.96.
 
Alfred’s Zion Baitey picked up his second win of the weekend, taking the triple jump with a leap of 13.12 meters. Teammate Jason Crocker won the discus with a toss of 43.36 seconds.
 
Nazareth’s 4 x 400-meter relay team of Mike Welch, Jack Healy, Gavin McAllister and Jaylen Savage emerged victorious in a time of 3:22.75. Connor McCauslin earned the win in the 110-meter hurdles, hitting the line in 15.28 seconds.
 
2024 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Final Team Scores
Utica University – 213
Nazareth University – 202
St. John Fisher University – 121
Alfred University – 46
Houghton University – 49
Russell Sage College – 45
Hartwick College – 5

2024 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Award Winners

Track Athlete of the Meet – Cade Eells, Jr., Distance, Nazareth University

Field Athlete of the Meet – Jack Pomykaj, So., Multi/Jumps, Nazareth University

2024 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Friday)

3,000-meter Steeplechase: Cade Eells, Nazareth – 9:18.54 *

400-meter dash: Michael Puglisi, Nazareth -– 49.40

4 x 800-meter relay: Joe Cataldo, Kenny Williams, Cole Hastings, Gavin McCallister, Nazareth – 7:59.53

10,000-meter run: Caleb Kasper, Houghton – 34:00.38

Long Jump: Zion Baitey, Alfred – 6.85 meters (22′ 5.75″)

Hammer Throw: Brandon Kaplan, St. John Fisher – 55.82 meters (183′ 2″) *

Pole Vault: Hayden Penna, St. John Fisher – 4.60 meters (15′ 1″)

Javelin Throw: Justin Swavely, Utica – 58.77 meters (192’ 9″)

 

2024 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Saturday)

4 x 100-meter relay: Nyles Rogers, Andy Hadasz, Connor Dean, Ethan Kain, Utica – :42.38

1,500-meter run: Amos Bixler, Nazareth – 4:02.96

110-meter hurdles: Connor McCauslin, Nazareth – :15.28

100-meter dash: Andy Hadasz, Utica – :10.78

800-meter run: Gavin McCallister, Nazareth – 1:56.47

400-meter hurdles: John Ruggio, St. John Fisher – :55.83

200-meter dash: Andy Hadasz, Utica – :22.04

5,000-meter run: Caleb Kasper, Houghton – 15:18.03

4 x 400-meter relay: Mike Welch, Jack Healy, Gavin McAllister, Jaylen Savage, Nazareth – 3:22.75

Shot Put: Hunter Logan, Utica – 16.39 meters (53’ 9.25”) *

Triple Jump: Zion Baitey, Alfred – 13.12 meters (43′ 0.5″)

Discus Throw: Jason Crocker, Alfred – 43.36 meters (142’ 3”)

High Jump: Kaiden McCaskill, Utica – 1.94 meters (6’ 4.25”)

Decathlon: Jack Pomykaj, Nazareth – 5,954 points *

* Empire 8 Championship Meet Record

 

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 www.empire8.com.

 

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