NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Day 1 of the Art Kadish Elm City Challenge Friday at Southern Connecticut State University's Moore Field House featured 10 Warriors across three field events. Eastern had three competing members in the men's pole vault, two in the women's weight throw, and five in the men's weight throw.
 

The men's pole vault featured Lucian Parker-Jennings (Athens, VT), Joseph Richardson (Milford), and Bode Paquin (Windham). After failing to clear a height at Wesleyan, Parker-Jennings led the Warriors at Southern Connecticut, clearing 4.00 meters on his second attempt. After three unsuccessful attempts at 4.15 meters, Parker-Jennings finished the day tied for 6th overall. Richardson started his day at 3.40 meters, 0.2 meters higher than his opening height last week. He cleared both 3.40 and 3.55 meters on his first attempt, before failing his first 3.70 meters. Richardson was successful in his second attempt but was unable to improve upon his personal record and clear 3.85 meters. He finished 11th overall in the field of 17. Paquin opened up at 3.55 meters, but was unable to clear the height in his three attempts.
 

The women's weight throw was split up into 2 flights, with the top 9 competitors making finals. Eastern's Chloe Hammer (Montville) represented the Warriors in the first flight. Hammer's second throw was nearly 2 meters better than her first and third, reaching 9.80 meters on her effort. This mark equals her throw from last week at Wesleyan, finishing today's competition in 16th place. Anaka Eaton (Coventry) opened up with a throw of 13.26 meters but had a foul throw on her second attempt. Her third attempt of 13.68 meters carried her into finals, earning herself another three throws. Eaton threw 13.41 meters and 13.32 meters on her fourth and sixth attempts, with another foul in between. She ends the competition in 7th overall.
 

The men's weight throw featured 31 competitors, splitting up the event into three flights. Andrew Johnson (Portland) set a personal record on his sixth and final throw of the day, with an effort of 15.33 meters. His mark of just over 50 feet is a personal record by over a foot, maintaining his third place throw in school history.  Despite just one legal throw in prelims and one in finals, Johnson finished the day in 5th overall. Ellis Thompson (Coventry) was the second placed Warrior, finishing 10th overall. He missed out on finals by just one place, with his lone legal throw coming on his second attempt of 13.79 meters. Mark Boudreau (Oxford) was able to better his mark from last week on 2 separate attempts today. His first throw of 13.55 meters was nearly a one-meter improvement from Wesleyan. On his second attempt, he threw the weight 13.65 meters, enough for 12th overall. Ryan Mays (Windsor) and Mike Prizio (Trumbull) finished within one place of each other, with 21st and 22nd overall. Mays had his best throw on his first attempt, nearly reaching his mark at Wesleyan, throwing 12.20 meters today. Prizio had three successful throws, with his furthest coming from his third and final attempt. He threw 12.06 meters, just 5 inches shy of 50 feet.
 

Following the second day of the invitational Saturday, the Warriors will have a three-and-a-half-week hiatus until their next meet at Bryant University. The midweek meet will begin at 2 p.m. at the Conaty Indoor Athletic Center, featuring only throwing events against high level competition. In January of 2025, the meet offered the shot put, weight throw, and discus throw.