Alex Stamatakis Wins MAC Shot Put Title

Alex Stamatakis

KENT, OH – University at Buffalo senior Alex Stamatakis became a Mid-American Conference champion as the Bulls completed the final day of league championships at Kent State University on Saturday.

Stamatakis won his signature event, the men's shot put, with a throw of 56-10.75 (17.34m) to win the event by six inches over Eastern Michigan's Gerald Gersham. Stamatakis improved his performance in the event with each successive throw starting with a toss of 53-4 (16.26m) through his winning toss on his next to last attempt. UB teammate Jake Madonia also scored for the Bulls in the shot put, placing third with a season-best toss of 56-3 (17.14m).

The UB men also set a new school record in the 4x400-meter relay. The UB foursome of Ezekiel Porter, Isaiah Mask, Brandon Giles and Matt Armstrong finished second to Kent State in 3:13.43, cutting a second off the previous best.

Jamal Norward earned a third-place finish in the men's 60-meter hurdles in 8.27 seconds. The UB men also had three fourth-place finishes. Russell Cameron took fourth in the heptathlon with a two-day total of 4,925 points. Cameron won 1,000-meters in 2:44.59. Armstrong was fourth in the 400-meters in 49.14 and Brian Smith took fourth in the 200-meters in a season-best 21.71.

Lataya Dixon

In the women's meet, Lataya Dixon earned a pair of ECAC qualifying marks as she finished second in the high jump at 5-7.75 (1.72m) and seventh in the 60-meters hurdles in 8.80 seconds. Both were season-best performances for the sophomore.

Seniors Mary Veith and Tina Villa finished with fourth-place finishes in their events. Veith posted a season best in the mile in 4:55.87, cutting more than three seconds off the top mark she set last weekend. Villa provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the women's shot put. Villa set a season best at 50-0.50 (15.25m), adding nearly nine inches to her top mark of the year.

The UB men finished with 61 points, placing fifth in the five-team meet, but just three points behind fourth-place Central Michigan (64). The UB women placed in the middle of the pack with 52 points for sixth place among 12 MAC programs. The Kent State men (159) and Akron women (126) claimed the team titles.

Both the men's and women's squads will be sending individuals to the IC4A and ECAC regional competitions in Boston next weekend.

Final men's scores (17 events): Kent State 159, Eastern Michigan 132, Akron 109, Central Michigan 64, UB 61.

Final women's scores (17 events): Akron 126, Kent State 101, Miami (OH) 73, Ball State 73, Western Michigan 62, UB 52, Central Michigan 44.50, Ohio 42.50, Eastern Michigan 42, Toledo 35, Bowling Green 11, Northern Illinois 1.