ITHACA, N.Y. -- Competing in a chilly Barton Hall, where the heating system had been turned off before the meet started, the Big Red track and field teams placed first in their respective team competitions at the Upstate Challenge on Saturday, defeating upstate New York rivals Buffalo, Colgate, Cortland, Ithaca College and Syracuse.

The Cornell men had 8 event wins on the day, to go along with a pair of alterations to the all-time top 10 lists and 6 IC4A qualifiers. The Big Red scored 226 points, ahead of Buffalo (176), Syracuse (43), Cortland (36), Ithaca College (33) and Colgate (27).   Senior co-captain Erik Roneker continued to throw well, winning the weight throw in an IC4A-qualifying 61-4 3/4; freshman Bob Belden missed the IC4A standard by one centimeter in placing fourth in 55-1.  Roneker came back to place third, with another IC4A qualifier, in the shot put, reaching a seasonal best 54-0.  Fellow captain Garrett Huyler led a 1-2-3 Big Red sweep of the high jump, clearing an IC4A qualifying 6-8 1/4, a height also achieved by junior Jay Pierce. Sophomore Enbani Moore was third at 6-6 1/4.  Junior Gary Jones placed first in the triple jump with yet another IC4A qualifier, reaching 48-10 as senior Aaron Gadson was second at 46-9 1/2.  On the track, junior Pete Loy looked strong in winning the mile in a personal best 4:14.49, an IC4A qualifier.  He was followed closely by senior distance specialists Zach Hine (2nd, 4:16.39) and Sage Canaday (3rd, 4:17.11).  Junior Owen Kimple displayed  little rust, winning the 800 in 1:56.28; freshman Chris Jakobsen was second in 1:58.82 and sophomore Max Kasak third in 1:59.37.  Sophomore Adrien Dannemiller looked strong in winning the 1000 in 2:30.28 and junior Dale Taylor won the 3000 in 8:32.14.  The Big Red's other event win on the day came from freshman Kenny McClain, who took the 400 in 49.71.   His classmate Daniel Thomas ran well to get third in 50.99.  In the two-day heptathlon, Cornell saw two changes to the school all-time top lists.   Sophomore Chris Ryan placed second with 4579 points (#8 all-time) and freshman Josh Cusick was third at 4517 points (#9 all-time).

The men had other top-three performances from junior Brad Herynk (2nd, 7.09) and sophomore Andy Ahart (3rd, 7.23) in the 60, junior Kyle Wolpert in the 3000 (3rd, 8:39.21), the 4X400 (2nd, 3:25.58), the 4X800 (2nd, 8:03.42), junior Jason Inzana in the pole vault (2nd, 15-4 1/4), and freshman Vince Formica in the long jump (3rd, 22-7 1/4).

Complete results are available here:
Upstate Challenge Results
Upstate Challenge Pentathlon
Upstate Challenge Heptathlon.

Next up for Cornell track and field is a busy weekend.  The men will send a small contingent to the Millrose Games at New York's Madison Square Garden on Friday night, January 30th.  Both teams will then compete in another scored competition, the Harvard Select Meet in Cambridge, MA on Saturday, January 31st.