STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – For the second time in his career, Sacred Heart University men's track and field standout Cameron Croce earned Indoor NEC Thrower of the Meet honors after his outstanding performance at the 2023 Northeast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. 

The Pioneers finished the 2023 Indoor NECs in a tie for sixth place, matching LIU with 51 points. Wagner College took the top team prize for the third straight season with 151 points.

Croce collected his second conference Thrower of the Meet honor after earning a win in the weight throw and a seventh-place finish in the shot put. The Hope, R.I., native took the gold in the weight throw today with a toss of 18.25m to earn the team 10 points.  

Joining Croce with a gold medal today was senior Owen Nassaney, who was crowned champion of the high jump. The North Attleboro, Mass., native cleared 2.01m to give SHU 10 more points. 

The Pios' final individual podium finisher today was Dominic Miele, as he took the bronze in the 500m dash. The sophomore finished the race in 1:06.26 for six points. 

SHU posted a pair of point-getters in the 400m dash. Rafael Mahario crossed the finish line in 49.59 to take fifth, and Jonathan Mahon ran a time of 50.24 to place eighth. 

Rounding out the Pioneers' individual point-getters were Nazir Hibbert and Dylan Hunt, as both tallied eighth-place finishes. Hibbert (1.85m) took eighth in the high jump, while Hunt posted a personal-record mark of 13.08m in the long jump. 

Sacred Heart also saw both of its relay teams finish in the top six today. The 4x400m relay squad of Mahario, Miele, Mahon, and Joseph Morrone earned eight points by placing second. At the same time, Patrick Curreri, Benjamin Healy, Owen Parker, and Matthew Vene took sixth in the 4,000m distance medley relay.

The Pioneers return to the track on Sunday, Feb. 26, to participate in the Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier, hosted by Boston University.

Team Standings 
1 Wagner - 151
2 Central Connecticut - 102
3 Saint Francis - 84
4 Fairleigh Dickinson - 81
5 Merrimack - 70
6 Sacred Heart - 51
    LIU - 51
8 Stonehill - 49
9 St. Francis (N.Y.) - 20