Men's Track and Field | 2/22/2024 1:27:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University men's track and field team competes this weekend at the Empire 8 Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship in Houghton. Events start on Friday, Feb. 23, and run through Saturday, Feb. 24. 
 
Here's what you need to know about the team's quest for conference glory:
 
Team Title Quest and Championship History
The Cardinals have won overall team indoor titles six times in the program's history, most recently in the 2021-22 season. They enter this year's meet with the current top performer in four of the meet's 17 events, behind only Utica.
 
Last season, Fisher finished third at the Indoor Championship in the team competition, with 104 points.
 
High Jump, High Score
Senior Sean Cochrane leads the conference with the best high jump mark of the season so far, reaching a height of 2.03 meters (6'7.75") that is one of the top 15 heights in all of Division III this year. The Avon native won the high jump at five events this indoor season and finished second in both the indoor and outdoor high jump in last season's indoor and outdoor conference meets. 
 
Top Billings
Senior Ethan Billings currently holds the best time in the conference this season in the 5000 meter, with a mark of 15:14.85. The New Jersey native has also notched of the conference's best times in the mile run (4:28.89, fifth-best) and 3000 meter (8:53.34, second-best). Should Billings win this year's 5000 meter title, it'll be his second in college: he also won the conference crown in 2022. 
 
Penna in Pole Position
Freshman Hayden Penna has the top mark in the conference this season in the pole vault: 4.60 meters (15'1"). That height is the 43rd-best in the entirety of Division III and would, if repeated at the conference meet, be the best jump there since 2011. 
 
Long Jump Leader
Senior Matthew Stasiw won last season's conference long jump title, and he's looking to repeat. Currently leading the Empire 8 with a distance of 6.71 meters (22'0.25"), Stasiw would be continuing a recent streak of excellence by Fisher in the discipline: the Cardinals have won 10 of the last 11 conference titles. 
 
What Comes Next
Athletes that qualify will compete at the Atlantic Region Indoor Championships beginning March 1 at Nazareth University. 
 
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, scores, highlights and more by downloading the official mobile app for Fisher Athletics. Just search SJF Athletics in the App Store or on Google Play and download today for free. Follow the Cardinals on social media for more! Twitter | Instagram