ITHACA, N.Y. – The Syracuse University track and field teams heads to Ithaca to compete in the Cornell Upstate Challenge on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23. The weekend's events are set to begin with the pentathlon/heptathlon on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Cornell's Barton Hall. Saturday's first running events are scheduled for 9:30 a.m., while the field events will begin at 1:00 p.m. In addition to the Cornell Big Red, the Orange will face off against four other upstate schools, including Buffalo, Colgate, Ithaca, and Cortland.

Multi-event specialists junior Evan Stivala and freshman Frank Taylor will headline for the Orange in Friday's Heptathlon for the men. On Saturday, sophomore Matt Callanan will run the 60-meter high hurdles, looking to repeat his performance at the Syracuse Welcome Back where he took home the crown in the 55-meter hurdles. Freshman Will Watson, who placed second with a mark of 6.50m in the long jump at the Syracuse Welcome Back, will be returning to action. Junior Nick Damato will also be jumping for the Orange, while freshman Amadou Gueye joins Callanan in the high hurdles.

Sophomore Kris Kolewe and freshman Tyler McCully represents SU in the mid-distance events, competing in the 800-meter run and the 400-meter run, respectively.

In the distance events, the Orange men will boast five runners in the one mile run, as well as in the 3,000-meter run. Veteran juniors Patrick Murray, Greg Manning-Smith, and Nate Saviet will lead SU in the one mile, while sophomores Nick Roertgen and Ramon Acosta front a young squad in the 3,000-meter.

On the women's side, senior Uhunoma Osazuwa and sophomore Kelsey Rubeor will represent the Orange in the pentathlon. Rubeor placed first in the shot put at the Syracuse Welcome Back. Freshman sprinter Charma Harris will be competing in the 60-meter dash.

Melissa Romero, who took home the high jump crown at the Syracuse Welcome Back, will lead the team's jumping squad. Senior Annabelle Pellerin, sophomore Paris McLean, freshmen Erica Belanger, Tara Brenner, and Aubree Mercure will also be jumping for the Orange.

For mid-distance runners, junior Lareea Chisholm will be representing SU in the 400-meter competition. Chisholm took first in that event at the Syracuse Welcome Back. Senior Racquel Clarke will take part in the 500-meter run, while senior Mary Elizabeth Long, freshmen Christine Zivica and Roseda Lo are entered in the 800-meter event. In their last meet, Long took home the 800-meter title and Lo placed 4th overall.

Distance runners for the women will include seniors Jenna Bieri, Lynne Mundy, and Stefanie Slekis. Junior Tricia Wardwell, who finished 16th in the 3,000-meter at the Syracuse Welcome Back, will also be competing.