UTICA, NY (January 15, 2022) - The Bronco's Track and Field team returned to action for the first time in 2022 in historic fashion at the Utica College Winter Opener.
Freshman Naquille Harris has been working his way towards the 60 meter dash record all season. After scaring the record at Cornell in early December and tying the record, set in 2002 by Marvin Elmore, on the Utica track in mid December, he made the record his own taking the win with his mark of 6.87 seconds. The mark currently ranks Harris as the sixth fastest runner in the nation for NCAA Division III.
Other highlights for the men were led by junior Seth Bywater started his 2022 campaign in great form, running a new lifetime best for the 5,000 meters (15:29.55) to qualify him for the AARTFC Championships in March. Freshman teammate, John Amenta (15:30.64) also scored in the 5,000 meters placing seventh overall. Finishing off the scoring for the Broncos was freshman Brennan Frascello in the 400 meters placing sixth overall.
On the women's side, senior Jaylynn Sheppard decided to use her remaining eligibility from seasons cancelled or altered by Covid-19 and made the choice pay off in a big way in the first meet of her extended career. Sheppard fired out of the gates with a 8.02 to win the 60 meter dash. This was good for a lifetime best by nearly a quarter of a second, the second fastest time in the program's history and an automatic qualifier for the AARTF Championships! Sheppard also placed fourth in the 200 meters (27.85).
Also scoring points for the women was freshman Kitty Messina in the weight throw where posted the number two performance in school history with lifetime best of four and a half feet to place eighth. Messina followed that up in the shot put where she posted another huge lifetime best by four feet to post the number three performance in program history and place third overall.
Rounding out the women's scoring were Mary Lyons (3:39.99) and Shyanne Lawton (3:43.99) in the 1,000 meter run placing fifth and seventh respectively.
Next up for the Broncos will be a trip to Hamilton College.
