View Full Upstate Challenge Results

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Syracuse University women's track and field team took home four first place titles at the Upstate Challenge hosted by Cornell on Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23. Junior Evan Stivala led the men of Syracuse, taking home the only crown for his team in the men's heptathlon high jump with a mark of 1.93m. 

The women were led by seniors Melissa Romero, Annabelle Pellerin, Maegan Krifchin, and Uhunoma Osazuwa. Romero and Pellerin tied for first place in the high jump with marks of 1.65m. Krifchin scored the title in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:56.37, while Osazuwa was crowned the winner of the women's pentathlon high jump with a leap of 1.67m.

Several other members of the women's jumping squad also had strong performances at the Upstate Challenge, including sophomore Pricilla Ilarraza and freshman Erica Belanger, who placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the high jump competition. Junior Leah Testa earned a mark of 3.30m, finishing sixth overall in the pole vault. Freshman jumper Aubree Mercure placed sixth in the long jump, as well as eighth in the triple jump.

As for the women runners, graduate student Beth Long earned second place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:15.41, while senior Stefanie Slekis took home took home second in the one mile run. Junior Lareea Chisholm legged out a third place finish in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.70. The Syracuse "A" relay team, comprised of Chisholm, Long, Belanger, and freshman Kelly Anne McCarthy, finished the 4 x 400-meter relay with a time of 4:13.15, placing fourth overall.

On the men's side, sophomores Kris Kolewe and Ryan Ellis finished second and third in the 800-meter run, respectively. Junior Greg Manning-Smith legged out a third place finish in the one mile run with a time of 4:26.11. Sophomore Roman Acosta also earned third place in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:47.07. Freshman Jon Aziz recorded a time of 8:45.00 in the same event, placing seventh overall.

The Orange track and field teams will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 29 at the Millrose Games in New York, N.Y. and at the Terrier Invitational in Boston, Mass.