TUSCALOOSA, AL – With the arrival of spring in many parts of the country, the University at Buffalo’s men’s and women’s track teams opened the outdoor season with the Alabama Relays at Sam Bailey Track in Tuscaloosa, AL. There is no team scoring in the meet featuring teams from throughout the Southeastern United States.

Keith Gentes

The top result posted by the Bulls in Saturday’s competition was by men’s senior thrower Keith Gentes (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken). Gentes, who sat out the 2001-02 as a redshirt, returned to outdoor action with a victory in the men’s hammer throw. Gentes’ toss of 172-0 (52.42m) was nearly four feet better than the second and third place finishes of throwers from Mississippi and Louisville. Joining Gentes near the top of the hammer results was senior Byron McKinney (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home), who placed sixth at 161-1 (49.10m).

Meagan Rogers

Women’s multi-event competitor Meagan Rogers (Courtenay, BC/George P. Vanier) opened the outdoor season with a record-setting performance in the heptathlon. Rogers bettered her school-record point total in the seven-event competition with 4,832 points to eclipse the total of 4,793 set at the 2002 MAC Championships. Rogers solidified her record by winning the competition’s final event, the 800 meters, in 2:22.82. She also finished third in the heptathlon shot put at 39-8.50 (12.10m).

Other top UB men’s results included freshman Todd Joki (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) taking second in the 400 hurdles in 54.15. He also finished ninth in long jump at (6.87m). Fourth-place finishes were turned in by distance runner Rick Stewart (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) in the 5000 meters in 14:46.06 and pole vaulter Dan Simpson (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) at 14-7.25 (4.45m).

UB’s women were paced  in the 200 meter dash by  Jennelle Callender (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech) taking fifth in 24.72 and Biaunca McFarland (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) placing seventh in 24.88. Allison Laske (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) finished seventh in the 800 meters in 2:13.30 with Mindy Gorniak (Erie, PA/McDowell) racing to a 12^th-place finish in 2:15.88. In the throws, junior Faith Thompson (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) was eighth in the shot put at 43-0.50 (13.12m) while sophomore Beverly Weyer (Castalia, OH/St. Mary’s Central Catholic) finished ninth in discus at 139-3 (42.45m). Christina DeSantis (Port Crane, NY/Windsor) placed sixth in the pole vault at 10-0.50 (3.06m).

Competition concludes Sunday.