ALFRED, NY -- Senior Erik Diehl (Clarence Center, NY/Clarence) of the Alfred University men's track & field team broke the 31-year old school record in the 800-meter run on Saturday and earned the Empire 8 Men's Track Athlete of the Week on Monday.

This is the second time this academic year that Diehl has been honored by the Empire 8 as he claimed the Track Athlete of the Week recognition during the indoor season in February. 

Senior Diehl broke the school record in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:53.75 on Saturday at NCAA Division II Bloomsburg University where he won the event to top Division II and Division I Student-Athletes. His time broke the 31-year old record held by Russell Young '87 of 1:53.90. He then teamed with Rashid Abuelmaali (Latham, NY/Shaker), Jordan Schools (Wyalusing, PA/Wyalusing) and Seth Spicer (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) in the 4x400-meter relay to take second with a time of 3:34.72. Diehl's new time in the 800 puts him at the No. 1 spot in the Empire 8.

On Monday, Diehl and the Saxons co-hosted their first home meet at Alfred State where Diehl got to try some new events. He ran a 10:52.76 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase for his first time ever and also was the 800 leg of the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay, taking second with a time of 3:49.34.

Diehl and the Saxons will next compete in the Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Conference Championships this Friday and Saturday at St. John Fisher College.