PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The Hartwick Track & Field team capped off the Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a strong second day, earning multiple podium finishes to wrap up the weekend hosted by St. John Fisher.
HOW IT HAPPENED
On Friday, the men's 100-meter preliminary round marked the start of the championship slate for the Hawks, as Cody Bazemore (Bel Air, Md.) opened with a strong showing. Bazemore clocked in at 10.82 seconds, good for second place and a spot in Saturday's final.
Hartwick picked up its first point of the day in the 4x800 relay, as Basil Metz (Highland, N.Y.), Kamogelo De Almeida (Eros Park, Windhoek, Namibia), Devon Spalding (Mineola, N.Y.), and Erik Higgins (Buffalo, N.Y.) combined for a time of 8:50.58. The women added their first tally in the same event, with Keziah Anderson (Rock Island, Ill.), Emilia Murphy (Amsterdam, N.Y.), Addison Shank (Emmaus, Pa.), and Amelia Steitz (Fairport, N.Y.) finishing in 11:51.59.
Brynita Haas (Red Creek, N.Y.) closed out the opening day of track events with a standout performance, earning an AARTFC qualifying mark and a fourth-place finish in the 10,000 meters with a time of 38:51.66, adding five points for the Hawks. Bazemore also contributed in the long jump, recording a leap of 22 feet, ¾ inches to score two points after already securing regional qualification. First-year Ayden Burger (Copake, N.Y.) added two more points in the javelin with a throw of 41.43 meters (135 feet, 11 inches).
Saturday began with momentum for the Hawks, as the men's 4x100 relay posted a regional qualifying time of 43.14 seconds to earn a bronze medal and six points. Jaiden Deacon (Valley Stream, N.Y.), Shane Hunte (Rosedale, N.Y.), and Patrick Conteh (Salisbury, Md.) led the effort. On the women's side, Sydney Franza (Ellenville, N.Y.) teamed up with Anderson, Shank, and Murphy in the 4x100, finishing in 58.11 seconds to add a point.
Bazemore returned to the track to earn a silver medal in the 100-meter final, crossing in 10.98 seconds. In the 4x400 relay, Will Mensah (Cliffwood, N.J.) joined Metz, Conteh, and Higgins to post a time of 3:42.26, contributing two more points. Marquis Jones-McKinney (Astoria, N.Y.) highlighted the field events with a silver medal performance in the high jump, clearing 1.93 meters (6 feet, 4 inches) to secure eight points and a regional qualification, capping off a strong championship showing for Hartwick.
RESULTS
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
Hartwick will send a select group to Ithaca College for the Ithaca College "In Between" Meet on May 9.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
