UB Squads Set Records in Alabama

The Bulls participated in the Alabama Relays in Tuscaloosa over the weekend facing some of the toughest competition they'll see all season. Teams representing schools from such prestigious conferences as the Southeastern Conference, Big East and Conference USA were in attendance in the four-day meet.

Although the meet was a full competition, only the relay events were scored. The top eight teams in each event were award points. UB's women tied for 15th scoring six points while the Bulls' men tied for 21st with five points. Host Alabama won the men's team competition scoring a 29-28 win over Auburn while Pittsburgh took the women's relays with 50 points to Alabama's 31.

In the women's meet, Biaunca McFarland (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) established a new school record in the triple jump. McFarland broke her own record set at last season's MAC Championships by finishing seventh with a leap of 39-7.75 (12.08m), 7.5 inches better than her previous mark. McFarland also placed 22nd among 67 runners in the 400 meters with a 57.63 clocking.

The Bulls had two relay teams score points as the 3200 relay team placed fifth in 9:11.68 and the 1600 relay team took seventh in 3:52.75.

Other strong individual performances for UB's women included Laura Olson (Lyons, NY/Lyons) taking ninth in the pole vault at 10-11.75 (3.35m), just a quarter-inch behind her school record that she set two weeks ago. Christina Keck (Erie, PA/McDowell) finished 14th among 70 runners in the 800 meters (2:14.25).

On the men's side, UB's 3200 relay team was fourth in 7:42.93 to set a new school record while the 1600 relay squad was 11th in 3:20.10.

Individually, Adam Smith (Varysburg, NY/Attica) established a new school record in the discus with a toss of 163-4 (49.78m) to place seventh. The throw was two inches better than Smith's record set last season. Smith also placed 12th in the shot put at 49-4.50 (15.05m) while Joe Loiacano (Rochester, NY/Greece-Olympia) was 14th at 48-10.75 (14.90m). Keith Gentes (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken) took fourth in the hammer throw at 179-1 (54.58m).

Todd Ludden (Hornell, NY/Hornell) also set a new record in the 5000 meters finishing eighth in 14:55.14. The time broke Chris Bossert's 1996 mark of 15:06.11.

2001 Schedule

Mar. 10 at Seahawk Invitational

M: UNC Wilmington 198, UB 135, Citadel 66

W: UNC Wilmington 253, UB 197, Citadel 37

Mar. 24-25 at Alabama Relays

M: Tied for 21st of 32 scoring teams with 5 pts.

W: Tied for 15th of 26 scoring teams with 6 pts.

Mar. 31 at Rochester Invitational

Apr. 7 at Ohio University Invitational

Apr. 11-14 at Sea Ray Relays

Apr. 14 UB OPEN I 10:00 am

Apr. 21 at Syracuse Invitational

Apr. 26-28 at Penn Relays

May 4-5 UB OPEN II 10:00 am

May 17-19 at MAC Championships All Day

May 30-J 2 at NCAA Championships

Home meets in BOLD CAPS at UB Stadium