Bulls Compete In Prestigious Cannon Classic

Members of the University at Buffalo men's and women's indoor track teams competed in the prestigious Cannon IV Classic in Indianapolis, IN over the weekend on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Over 65 of the top schools in the country -including Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio State and Brigham Young -competed at the event which saw the Bulls smash eight more school records.

There was no team scoring kept in the event.

Greene Sets Stadium/School Record

UB senior thrower Rashidi Greene (Webster, NY/Webster) had the best performance of his outstanding career at the Cannon IV Classic.

Greene set a new stadium, school and meet record in the 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 59-1¹/₂" to win the event. For his efforts, Greene was named this week's UB Male Athlete of the Week.

Greene broke his own school record in the event by 4¹/₂ inches.

Bulls Men Break Four School Records

Greene wasn't the only record breaker on the men's side for the Bulls at the Cannon IV Classic as senior sprinter Dave Monk (Norwich, NY/Norwich) and sophomore hurdler Brian Williams (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) were a big part of three more school records.

Monk finished an impressive 13th in the 400-meters with a school record time of :49.07 while Williams set a school record in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of :08.47. Williams and Monk then combined with Pete Otovic (DeWitt, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) and Mike Commisso (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) to set a school record in the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:19.13. That mark was ninth of 15 teams competing in the event.

UB Women Impressive At Cannon Classic

The UB women also broke four school records and several tremendous performances at the Cannon IV Classic.

Leading the way for the Bulls was junior Udo Okeke (Seattle, WA/Lagos) who set a new school record in the 800-meters by finishing fifth in 2:10.07. That time is the best by any Mid-American Conference athlete in that event this season.

Okeke also was part of two relay teams that set school records. Okeke joined Jenelle Callender (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech), Christina Keck (Erie, PA/McDowell) and Biaunca McFarland (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) to set a school record in the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 3:50.13, which placed 13th of 25 teams. Okeke, Keck, Casey Spencer (Corning, NY/Corning Painted Post-West) and Diane Corredor (Westfield, NY/Westfield) also set a school record in the distance medley relay (12:02.73) finishing 12th overall.

Senior Melissa Ryan (Oswego, NY/Oswego) set a new school record in the 60-meter hurdles (:08.90) finishing 21st overall.

Also finishing in the top 40 for UB were Christina Keck who was 31st in the 800 meters, Jenelle Callender in the 400-meters (29th in :57.89) and junior Eileen Rose (Latham, NY/Shaler) who placed 39th in the 3,000-meters in a time of 10:23.0.

Four Bulls Rank In Top Three In MAC

The Bulls currently have four athletes that rank among the top three in their individual events in last week's MAC top times and distances for the season. Junior Udo Okeke leads the way with the top time among all competitors in the 800-meters with her 2:10.07 timing at the Cannon IV Classic. Teammate Sarah Fletcher is currently third in the 20-pound weight throw with her toss of 58-6¹/₂" at the Colgate Invitational.

UB junior jump specialist Kamau Halim (Medina/NY/Medina) currently ranks third in the MAC with his school record leap of 48-2¹/₂" at the Doug Raymond Invitational on Jan. 22nd. Senior Rashidi Greene ranks second in the 35-pound weight throw with his heave of 59-1¹/₂" this weekend at the Cannon IV Classic.

Fletcher Qualifies for NCAA's

Junior Sarah Fletcher (Crystal Beach, Ontario/Ridgeway-Crystal Beach), who transferred to UB from Illinois State this past December, is making quite an impact.

Fletcher broke her own school record in the 20-pound weight throw and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships with a toss of 58-6¹/₂" at the Eastern Michigan Invitational on February 7th.

School Records Broken This Year

Name Event Time/Distance Event

Odu Okeke 800 meters 2:10.07 Cannon IV Classic

Callender, Keck, McFarland, Okeke 4x400 relay 3:50.13 Cannon IV Classic

Jenelle Callender 500 meters 1:17.32 Colgate Invitational

Adam Smith Shot put 50-5¹/₄ Class of '32 Invite

Deven Fister Pole Vault 10-2 Kent Invitational I

Katie Scott 300 meter hurdles :45.40 Kent Invitational I

Dave Monk 500 meters 1:03.96 Kent Invitational I

Dave Monk 400 meters :49.07 Cannon IV Classic

Steve Esler Pentathlon 3,528 pts. E. Michigan Inv.

Adam Smith Shot put 50-4 Doug Raymond Inv.

Sarah Fletcher Shot put 40-2 Doug Raymond Inv.

Rashidi Greene 35-pound weight throw 59-1¹/₂ Cannon IV Classic

Brian Williams 60-meter high hurdles :08.47 Cannon IV Classic

Sarah Fletcher 20-pound weight throw 58-6¹/₂ E. Michigan Inv.

Udo Okeke 600 meters 1:33.6 Don Wright Inv.

Melissa Ryan 60-meter hurdles :08.90 Cannon IV Classic

Jason Liddle Pole vault 15-8 Class of '32 Invite

Keck, Corredor, Okeke, Spencer DMR 12:02.73 Cannon IV Classic

Otovic, Williams, Commisso, Monk 4x400 relay 1:19.13 Cannon IV Classic