Outdoor Track and Field Weekly Release

Outdoor Season Gets Underway at Seahawk Invite

The University at Buffalo kicked off the outdoor men’s and women’s track and field season at the two-day Seahawk Invitational hosted by the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. The UB men finished a distant runner-up to the host Seahawks with 84 points to UNCW’s 275 in the eight-team meet. The UB women placed third among six schools, scoring 82 points as UNCW took first place with 317. The UB men’s and women’s teams won three events apiece and qualified one individual for the NCAA East Regional Championships at the end of the season. The Bulls posted these results without the benefit of their weight throwers and hurdlers who did not compete in Wilmington.

Jezorski, Hinners Post Individual Wins

Jen Jezorski

In the women’s meet, senior Jen Jezorski (Elmira, NY/Elmira Southside) took the 800-meter run in 2:15.67. Sophomore Carrie Hinners (Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove) claimed the pole vault for the Bulls with a height of 11-2.50 (3.42m). The UB women also posted a relay victory as the 4x400-meter team took first in 3:59.34. The foursome consisted of Stacy Downer (Philadelphia, PA/Dobbins/Randolph Tech), Jezorski, Kate Kohout (Clarence, NY/Clarence) and Mary Veith (Derby, NY/Lake Shore).

Richards Cruises to Long Jump Win

Roy Richards

For the men, Roy Richards (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) opened the outdoor season with a victory in the long jump with a distance of 24-4 (7.42m). The mark qualified the junior for the regional meet this May. Richards, the Mid-Amnerican Conference champion in the indoor long jump, needed just three jumps to win the event on Saturday, passing on his remaining attempts. Senior sprinter Bryan Weinstein (Getzville, NY/Williamsville North) won the 200-meters in 21.95 and junior distance specialist Dan McKenna (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) took first in the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:11.37.

Roelefson Earns Regional Mark

Vanessa Roelefson

Sophomore Vanessa Roelefson (Alma, Ontario/Norwell District SS) earned a regional qualifying mark with her second-place finish in the women’s javelin throw. Roelefson, who set the school record in the event at last season’s Seahawk Invitational, posted a distance of 147-11.75 (45.10m).

Distance Runners Impressive

Jenny Koeppel

UB’s distance runners posted strong finishes as the UB women placed second, third and fourth in the 5,000-meters. Jenny Koeppel (Amherst, NY/Amherst) placed second in 17:50.51 with Aleks Bykowska (Poznan, Poland/Third High School in Poznan) third in 18:31.02 and Jezorski taking fourth in18:36.74. Kohout placed third in the women’s 1,500-meters in 4:47.64 with Veith fourth in 4:52.11. The UB men picked up second-place finishes from John Flor (Albion, NY/Albion) in the 1,500-meters in 4:05.06 and Loic Sebuharara (Vestal, NY/Vestal) in the triple jump at 13.76m. The 4x100-meter relay team also finished second in 42.85. Weinstein placed third in the 400-meters in 50.08.

Raleigh Relays Awaits Squads

The Bulls return to the Tar Heel State this weekend for the Raleigh Relays. This is a change from earlier schedules which had the Bulls competing at the Greensboro Relays on the same weekend. Typically one of the largest events on the East Coast, the Bulls had planned on the Greensboro meet when North Carolina State considering cancelling this year’s meet. With the meet on again, UB has switched gears and will participate in Raleigh.