A stellar opening-day at the NJCAA Division III men's track and field championships, capped by a pair of national champions in the hammer throw and pole vault put the four-time defending champion College of DuPage Chaparrals at the front of the pack at the national track when competition closed Thursday in Utica, N.Y.

Hammer thrower Sterling Sawicki won the event on his fourth throw of competition, and then on his final and fifth throw, reached 46.26 m (151 feet, 9 inches) as the Chaps picked up 23 team points with a runner-finish from Tayo Taiwo (44.55 m / 146-2) and fourth-placer John Tarpeh (39.31 m / 128-11).  

COD finished Thursday with a five-point lead over fellow Region 4 foe Harper — 46-41 with six of 22 events completed.

Freshman All-American William Kallas was the overwhelming favorite entering the pole vault competition, and did not disappoint. He opened competition clearing 4.22 m (13-10) and won the event on his first attempt. He then cleared 4.50 (14-9) before ending his day on three attempts at 4.70 (15-5).

COD's 4 x 800 relay team of Jack Schultz, Shaymis Powell, Chris Ruchaj, John Buchanan placed third in 8:11.60. The Chaps' secured a sixth-place and seventh-place in the 10,000 meters from John Buchanan and David Aviles, respectively, and triple jumper Karam Tajeddin placed seventh at 13.22 m (43-4 ½).

The top-notch 4 x 100 relay team of Tim McMiller, Weston White, Landon Zimny, Eli Phipps ran the fastest preliminary time of 41.57 and will run the final on Saturday.

The Chaps have two athletes competing in the decathlon and each enjoyed excellent first-day efforts. Anthony Urban was second in 2,794 points and teammate Jake Gagne was third at 2,776 points entering Friday's final day.

NJCAA Division III Track and Field Championship
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Mohawk Valley CC | Utica, N.Y.
Team (through six of 22 events): 1 Chaparrals 46, 2 Harper 41, 3 Mineral Area 29, 4 Joliet JC 19, 5 Hudson Valley 17
 
Chaparrals
Decathlon (through five events): 2,776 points: Jacob Gagne — 100 (791), long jump (512), Shot put (333), high jump (520), 400 (620); 2,794 points: Anthony Urban — 100 (693), long jump (569), shot put (444), high jump (496), 400 (592)
4 x 800 relay — 3. 8:11.60 (Jack Schultz, Shaymis Powell, Chris Ruchaj, John Buchanan)
10,000 m — 6. John Buchanan 35:40.94, 7. David Aviles 36:26.90
Hammer — 1 Sterling Sawicki 46.26 m (151-9), 2. Tayo Taiwo 44.55 m (146-2), 4. John Tarpeh 39.31 m (128-11)
Triple jump — 7 Karam Tajeddin 13.22 m (43-4 ½)
Pole vault — 1 William Kallas 4.50 m (14-9)
Javelin — Keenan O'Keefe 34.81 (114-2)
4 x 100 relay (preliminaries) — 41.57 (Timothy McMiller, Weston White, Landon Zimny, Elijah Phipps)