NEW LONDON, CONN. (May 3, 2025) – The Tufts University women’s track and field team secured victory at the Division III New England Championships after another excellent day of competition down in New London at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Senior Harper Meek became the first Jumbo to score points on day two, finishing second in the high jump with a massive mark of 1.66m. Her second place finish was enough for the 16th best mark in the NCAA Division III.

First year Mia Kurtz became the next Jumbo to score points with her eighth place finish in the discus throw. Her mark of 39.02m picked up a point for the Jumbos, helping to keep them atop the team standings.

Simisola Lawal and Makayla Moriarty made consecutive finishes in the 100m dash finals as Lawal took sixth with a 12.19 and Moriarty seventh with a 12.24. Both finishes were inside the Top 100 fastest times in the NCAA Division III.

Carly Rinko and Phoebe Bryar also took consecutive finishes in the 800m run. Rinko was third with a season-best 2:14.95 for the 60th best time in the NCAA Division III, while Bryar broke the facility record with a personal best time of 2:13.24.

First year Grace Doyle finished just outside the podium in the 3000m steeplechase with a fourth place finish in a personal best time of 11:33.04. Junior Lexi Dean was just a bit behind her in fifth with an 11:39.33.

The Jumbos relay teams saw two facility records fall in both of their races. The 4x100m relay team of Lawal, Chechile, Moriarty and Cumberland took third in a track-best time of 47.17. It was the fastest time posted by the squad this season. The 4x400m relay finished in a track-best time of 3:51.26 for second place. It was the best time posted by the squad of Smith, Moriarty, Chechile and Kral.

The heptathlon’s conclusion saw sophomore Tessa Player leapfrog ahead into first place for the win. Her day started with a fourth place finish in the long jump before she rattled off back-to-back first place finishes in the javelin throw and 800m run. Her points total of 4257 was just 55 points ahead of the runner-up from Bowdoin.

The Jumbos took first place by an overwhelming 34 points with 94 to Connecticut College’s 60. They will have the week off before heading out west to compete in the NEICAAA Championships at UMass Amherst.

–JUMBOS–

Men’s Outdoor Track and Field | 5/3/2025 7:47:48 PM

SUNY Geneseo won the 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship from Bob Boozer Field at Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium on the Campus of SUNY Brockport on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3. Geneseo finished with 303.5 points, while host SUNY Brockport finished second with 199 points and St. John Fisher University was third with 104 points.
 
The Knights had 10 individuals/relay teams win events and set five Empire 8 Championship records in its first season as a league member.
 
Sophomore Emerson Comer of was named 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet after setting a pair of Empire 8 Championship meet records in winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meters. He began the meet on Friday with a win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by over seconds in a record time of 9:04.73. He came back on Saturday to win the 5,000-meters in a meet record time of 14:28.20.
 
St. John Fisher senior Brandon Kaplan was named 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet. On Friday, Kaplan won the hammer throw with a toss of 60.87 meters, which shattered former NCAA Champion Luis Rivera of Nazareth University’s mark of 59.22 meters, set in winning the 2015 NCAA National Championship. Kaplan’s mark is now the sixth best in Division III to date this season.
 
Jack Pomykaj of Nazareth broke his own Empire 8 meet record in winning the decathlon with 6,173 points. He was the top E8 finisher in the 100-meters, long jump, 110-meter hurdles, and pole vault. He also moved into the top-30 nationally with his score.
 
Utica’s Hunter Logan won his fourth straight league title in the shot put with a toss of 15.79 meters. Fellow Utica standout Louis Pinto annexed the high jump with a leap of 1.96 meters.
 
Ryan Hagan of SUNY Geneseo out-dueled Jonathan Zavala in a stirring battle to win the 1,500-meters in not only an E8 Championship meet record, but all-time E8 record time of 3:49.78.
 
Geneseo’s Jacob Miller, who broke the E8 record in the 400-meters Friday night, won the 200-meter dash Saturday in 21.85 seconds.
 
Geneseo’s 4 x 100-meter relay team of Trey Feirman, Andrew Kent, Jack Towns, Jackson Burton began the day with a win in 41.92 seconds. Brendan Style of Geneseo won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.87 seconds, while Matthew Sheehan took the 800-meters in 1:52.16.

Derek Grimshaw of host Brockport won the 100-meters by one, one-hundredth of a second in 11.00 seconds, while teammate Jeremy Chen won the 400-meter hurdles in 54.18 seconds.

The St. John Fisher duo of Manuel Sepulveda and Daniel Davis emerged victorious in field events. Sepulveda won the triple jump with a leap of 14.58 meters, while Davis won the discus with a toss of 40.43 meters.

  

2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Award Winners

Track Athlete of the Meet – Emerson Comer, So., Distance, SUNY Geneseo

Field Athlete of the Meet – Brandon Kaplan, Sr., Throws, St. John Fisher

 

2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Final Team Scores

SUNY Geneseo – 303.5 points

SUNY Brockport – 199

St. John Fisher University – 104

Utica University – 94.5

Nazareth University – 61

Houghton University – 42

Alfred University – 25

Russell Sage College – 13

Hartwick College – 13

2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Friday)

3,000-meter Steeplechase: Emerson Comer, SUNY Geneseo – 9:04.73 *

400-meter dash: Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo – 47.24 *^

4 x 800-meter relay: Amos Bixler, James Eustace, Henry Sardina, Aidan Fish, Houghton – 7:56.56

10,000-meter run: Micah McCulley, SUNY Geneseo – 32:45.73

Long Jump: Ellis Urgent, Utica – 7.24 meters (23′ 9″)

Hammer Throw: Brandon Kaplan, St. John Fisher – 60.87 meters (199′ 8″) *^

Pole Vault: Hayden Penna, St. John Fisher – 4.90 meters (16′ 0.75″) *

Javelin Throw: Kaiden Simpson, Russell Sage – 50.87 meters (166′ 10″)

 

2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Saturday)

4 x 100-meter relay: Trey Feirman, Andrew Kent, Jack Towns, Jackson Burton, SUNY Geneseo – :41.92

1,500-meter run: Ryan Hagan, SUNY Geneseo – 3:49.78 *^

110-meter hurdles: Brendan Style, SUNY Geneseo – :14.87

100-meter dash: Derek Grimshaw, SUNY Brockport – :11.00

800-meter run: Matthew Sheehan, SUNY Geneseo – 1:52.16

400-meter hurdles: Jeremy Chen, SUNY Brockport – :54.18

200-meter dash: Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo – :21.85

5,000-meter run: Emerson Comer, SUNY Geneseo – 14:28.20 *

4 x 400-meter relay: Arjun Ojha, Dawson Wadsworth, Jacob Miller, Matthew Sheehan, SUNY Geneseo – 3:15.29 *

Shot Put: Hunter Logan, Utica – 15.79 meters (51’ 9.75”)

Triple Jump: Manuel Sepulveda, St. John Fisher – 14.58 meters (47’ 10”)

Discus Throw: Daniel Davis, St. John Fisher – 40.43 meters (132’ 7”)

High Jump: Louis Pinto, Utica – 1.96 meters (6’ 5”)

Decathlon: Jack Pomykaj, Nazareth – 6,173 points *

* Empire 8 Championship Meet Record

^ All-Time Empire 8 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.

 

EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA

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By: Maddie Omana

DEDHAM, Mass. – The Dartmouth men’s and women’s track and field teams had four top ten performances during the Jay Carisella Coaches Invitational on Saturday, marking a successful regular season finish. 

“This was a great tune-up meet for the team as we head into the outdoor Ivy League Championships next weekend.  We had several great performances and added a few more names to the top ten lists.  Go Big Green!” Mike Nelson, the Marjorie & Herbert Chase ’30 Director of Dartmouth Track & Field and Cross Country, said. 

Mariella Schweitzer won the 100m hurdles for the Big Green with her 13.75 finish, putting herself at second all-time in program history. She also won the long jump with a 5.92m mark. Daniela Ruelas Lomeli followed closely behind in the 100m hurdles, placing second in the event and seventh in program history with her 14.50 finish. 

J’Voughnn Blake was the runner-up in the 800m, but put himself at second all-time in the event with his 1:47.72 finish. Emma Kerimo won the 5000m, clocking a 17:45.38 finish. 

On the throwing side, Zaneta Pivcova now ranks tenth all-time in the shot put after her 14.34m performance. Max Klein won the men’s shot put with a 17.57m throw. 

The Big Green will begin their championship season next weekend in New Haven, Conn., at the Ivy League Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

ALL-TIME RESULTS

Women’s 100m Hurdles

1. 13.39 – Cha’Mia Rothwell – 2017  
2. 13.75  – Mariella Schweitzer – 2025 
3. 14.29 –  Lauren Ready –  2015 
4. 14.32 – Anoush Krafian – 2022 
5. 14.45 – Abby Feeney – 2015 
6. 14.45 – Janea Dunchack – 2014
7. 14:50 – Daniel Ruelas Lomeli – 2025
8. 14.52 –  Sarah Kenney – 1999 
9. 14.53 – Allison Frantz – 2015 
10. 14.65 –  Victoria Michelotti – 2008 

Women’s Shot Put

1. 15.50m – Amy Winchester – 1996
2. 15.19m – Emmaline Berg – 2013 
3. 15.15m – Lily Lockhart – 2022 
4. 15.13m – Julia Reglewski – 2022 
5. 15.12m –  Allison Cardin – 2001 
6. 14.92m – Gail Koziara – 1982 
7. 14.70m – Sarah Beasley – 1989 
8. 14.56m – Emily Daly – 2009
9. 14.45m – Liz Waters – 1989 
10. 14.34m – Zaneta Pivcova – 2025

 Men’s 800m

1. 1:47.67 – Dennis Webster – 1993
2. 1:47.72 – J’Voughnn Blake – 2025
3. 1:48.39 – Tim Zepf – 2021
4. 1:48.90 – J’Voughnn Blake – 2023
5. 1:49.20 – Kwabena Gyasi-Twum – 1982
6. 1:49.26 – Anthony Hughes 
7. 1:49.40 – DJ Matusz – 2023
8. 1:49.75 – Michael Hughes – 1993
9. 1:49.76 – Jeff Gillooly – 1990
10. 1:50.07 – Ben True – 2007
11. 1:50.13 – Ben Gose – 1992

PRINCETON, N.J.  — The Columbia track & field team competed in the Larry Ellis Invite this weekend hosted by Princeton at Weaver Stadium. 

The Lions did fantastic at this meet, collecting a myriad of top finishes, specifically in the field and distance running events.

Obiora Okeke continued his strong outdoor season, placing third in discuss with a mark of 54.34m. In long jump, Joshua Adamns placed fourth with a mark of 7.49m. Parker Kim kept up his momentum by finishing fifth in hammer throw with a mark of 62.49m.

Gavin White was the men’s top finisher in a distance event, placing second in the 1500m with a time of 3:53.14.

The women’s team also had a few placements in the top five of distance events.

In the 1500m, three lions placed in the top five: Brigid McCabe, Scarlett Martin, and Olivia Martin. McCabe placed third with a time of 4:38.86. Scarlett came in second with a time of 4:38.65 and Olivia was right behind in fourth with a time of 4:38.92.

Lucy Henkel raced the 800m, finishing fourth with a time of 2:04.45. Jada Mia Puryear had yet another top finish, placing fifth in discus with a mark of 47.2m.

 

Full results from the Larry Ellis Invite, including all of Columbia’s other top finishers, can be found HERE. 

 

ON DECK:

On May 10th, the Lions are back in action, competing in the Ivy League Outdoor Heps in New Haven. The Outdoor Heps will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will continue on Sunday.

Stay up to date on all things Columbia track & field by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).

The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2025 is brought to you by the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers.

The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.

The Long Beach Poly beach volleyball team may find itself down — but never out.

It wasn’t the first time the Jackrabbits had trailed during their playoff run, and Saturday’s CIF-SS Division 3 championship at Long Beach City College was no different. Poly fell behind 2-1 against Canyon and even faced set point in the decisive match — with the entire season on the line.

The Jackrabbits eventually battled back to win it 3-2, claiming the program’s first-ever beach volleyball championship.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way. 3-2. Just tight and neck-to-neck like that,” said Poly Court 1 starter Aleeya Salima. “That’s just Poly.”

“It was a battle from beginning to end,” head coach Litara Keil said. “I don’t think there was ever a break for relief and I think this whole playoff series it’s been like that where we’re down and we have to come back and the girls have come back on top every single time.”

It all came down to Poly’s Simone Millsap and Alyssa Luna on Court 4, playing in the final match still underway with the overall score tied 2-2. The pair were locked in a tight third set against Canyon’s Hannah Hoang and Erin Ly, even trailing 14-15 while facing match point.The Jackrabbits fought back to earn a match point of their own, and sealed the championship with a Millsap ace.

Remarkably, it was the second time in as many matches that Millsap and Luna had been the last team standing. Just days earlier in the semifinals, they found themselves in the same high-pressure situation — delivering the deciding point to send them to Saturday’s championship.

“It feels amazing,” said Millsap. “The last few points in the semifinals and this game I was just visualizing my teammates running in and how amazing it would feel to win. So I felt that if I could channel that energy into my serve, we were gonna win.”

“When you have your people cheering you on it is easy to feel motivated and secure,” added Luna. 

Luna was moved up from junior varsity this season and has made her impact felt during Poly’s championship run. She’s had the luxury of placing alongside one of the Jackrabbits’ senior captains in Millsap.

“They’re the most sane team out of all five courts,” said Keil of the duo. “Their energy is sane and calm the whole time. That just shows a lot from Simone and her maturity, and Alyssa being a JV puller that got pulled up is insane. She’s just so calm and her demeanor in those pressure moments helped both of them pull through at the end.”