PITTSFORD, NY -- The Houghton track & field teams traveled to St. John Fisher on Saturday for their last regular season competition before qualifying athletes head to the Empire 8 Championships on May 3rd and 4th. Weather continued to be so-so as the Highlanders tried to get athletes qualified for Empire 8 Championships, better their current marks, or work to 'tune up' in different events. The highlight of the day came when Evan Kurtz broke the 100m program record in his preliminary race (11.08). The record of 11.12 was held by Jerome Houston from 2019. Later in the day in the 100m Final, Kurtz cut the record down even further by running 10.97 for 3rd place, also the 2nd fastest mark in the Empire 8 this year. Victoria Brewster also ran a seasons best time in the 100m of 12.45 to take 3rd place, and better her 2nd seeded time in the Empire 8. Abbie Nuzzo sits #2 in the Empire 8 in the Javelin, but threw a big seasons best mark of 31.67m to better her mark. Some athletes were just trying to punch their ticket to the championships. Jackson Collins threw a 3 meter personal best in the Javelin to break into the top 18 and achieve the soft standard for next weeks championships (32.59m). All in all, the team saw 17 personal best performances (37 in the last two weeks), and proved they're ready for next week's championship meet. 

Coach Hager commented after the meet, "Sometimes when the weather doesn't go your way, you're just looking for how people compete, and the manner in which they go about their business on meet day. It wasn't perfect, but I do believe we mostly saw this. We will head back to Fisher next Friday for day one of the Empire 8 Championships. At devotionals on Friday we talked about behaviors that reflect the values of the culture we have. We heard some seniors give their testimony of their time and legacy at Houghton, and in our program. I do believe our hearts are full from a very fun, and successful year. If the season ended today, it'd be a success because of who we've become as a team. I told them it's now time to have some fun and harvest the fruit of our labor. Don't sleep on Houghton next weekend."

RESULTS

Qualified athletes will compete on Friday and Saturday, May 3rd and 4th at the Empire 8 Championships hosted by St. John Fisher.