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Hill, Rucker Set School Records at Sykes-Sabock Meet

Fatimah Hill

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Two new school records and four additional regional qualifying marks were attained by University at Buffalo men's and women's track and field athletes as the Bulls completed Penn State's Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup on Saturday. The UB women placed ninth among 17 teams with 21 points. The UB men placed 11th in a 13-team field with 24 points. Virginia Tech (139.50) and Ohio State (107) won the women's and men's team titles, respectively.

UB was paced by two new school records both culminating in second-place finishes for the Bulls. In the women's long jump, sophomore Fatimah Hill (Waterport, NY/Lyndonville) broke the record set earlier this season by teammate Patrice Coney (Lyons, NY/Lyons). Hill, UB's outdoor long jump recordholder, cleared 19-4 (5.89m) to finish behind Penn State's Gayle Hunter (19-9.75, 6.04m). Hill broke Coney's record of 18-9 (5.71m) by seven inches and earned an ECAC qualfication for her effort. Coney set the long jump record on January 20 at the Cornell Upstate Challenge.

Reggie Rucker

On the men's side, senior Reggie Rucker (Rochester, NY/Rochester) shattered the record in the 55-meter hurdles. Rucker clocked 7.33 seconds to break Erich Smithson's 2003 mark of 7.73 seconds. Rucker turned in the record breaking performance in the finals as he finished second behind Pittsburgh's Mike Wray (7.16). Rucker now holds both of UB's sprint hurdle records after also setting the 60-meter hurdles record two weeks ago.

Women's shot putters Sarah Vance (Lockport, NY/Lockport) and Tina Villa (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) also scored for the Bulls. Vance placed third in the event with a toss of 51-5.50 (15.68m) to finish behind Virginia Tech throwers Brittany Pryor (54-2.50, 16.52m) and Ciera Ayangbile (51-8.25, 15.75m). Villa, meanwhile, attained a new personal best with her eighth place finish. Villa's toss of 48-6.75 (14.80m) was more than two feet better than her best mark this season.

UB's men's 4x400-meter relay squad earned an IC4A qualifying mark with their fifth-place overall finish. The foursome of Ezekiel Porter (Rochester, NY/East), John Bauman (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville North), Brian Heim (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) and Todd Joki (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) finished in 3:17.94, cutting two seconds off of last weekend's time and earning the regional nod. Joki also picked up an IC4A mark in the long jump at 23-4 (7.11m), finishing sixth overall.

Women's distance runner Mary Veith (Derby, NY/Lake Shore) also set a personal best and attained an ECAC qualifying mark with her finish in the 3,000-meters. Veith placed seventh in a strong field, clocking in at 9:50.77, in her first race at the distance this season.

UB's high jumpers also scored points for the Bulls. Caitlin Godin (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) placed fifth in the women's event at 5-7 (1.70m), tying her season-best and ECAC regional mark. Freshman Eugene Kennedy (Troy, NY/Troy) finished seventh in the men's competition at 6-7 (2.01m).

The Bulls finish the regular season on Friday, February 16 at the Akron Zips Open. The Mid-American Conference Championships, also to be held at Akron, get underway on February 23.