UB Women's Track and Field Announces Signees

Vicki Mitchell

BUFFALO, NY – Women's track and field and head cross country coach Vicki Mitchell has announced the signing of four athletes to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at the University at Buffalo.

Joining the program for the 2008-09 school year are Kristy Woods (Mercer, PA/Grove City), Katarina Holowacz (Bainbridge, NY/Bainbridge-Guilford), Anna Holmes (Freedom, NY/Pioneer) and Jackie Burns (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda).

Woods joins the Bulls as a thrower and will bolster UB's strong tradition of top-notch women's throwers. The cousin of former UB punter Ben Woods, she is the 2007 Pennsylvania state outdoor champion in the discus and runner-up in the shot put and an all-state selection. Woods posted personal-best distances of 43-1 for the shot put and 137-10 for the discus throw. She is undecided on a major but is interested in pursuing a career in the medical field.

"Kristy is an exceptional young woman and has her goals for college athletics set very high," said Mitchell. "She is going to be a great addition to our women’s team. With her focus and drive and [UB throws coach] Jim Garnham’s coaching, the sky is the limit."

Holowacz is a middle and long distance runner and will also race with the UB cross country team during the upcoming fall season. She has set personal-best times of 2:19.9 in the 800-meters, 3:01.90 in the 1,000-meters and 4:43.25 in the 1,500-meters. In 2007, Holowacz qualified for the New York State Cross Country Championships, her first year as a member of Bainbridge-Guilford's cross country squad and finished in the top half of the racers. Holowacz also competed at this year's state indoor championships in the 1,000-meters. She plans to major in physical therapy and has already been accepted into UB's Honors College.

"Kati brings a bright future to the team," said Mitchell. "She is developing strength and will be a strong part of the cross country team as well as the track distance squad."

Holmes joins the program as a long sprinter, concentrating on the 400-meters. At Pioneer High School, she set personal-best marks in the 200-meters (25.24), 300-meters (41.15) and 400-meters (57.13). Holmes qualfied for the state indoor championships in the 300-meters during the winter. She is undecided on her major but may concentrate on art.

"Anna will focus on the middle distances with an emphasis on the 400- and 800-meters," said Mitchell. "She has an extremely competitive drive and is going to be a big part of UB’s future in the Mid-American Conference. We are really excited to get the top 400-meter runner from Section VI to stay in Western New York for college."

Burns will bolster UB's middle distance runners. At North Tonawanda High School, she set personal-best marks in the 400-meters (58.10), 600-meters (1:36.91) and 800-meters (2:16.00). At the state indoor championships in Ithaca, earlier this month, she competed in the 600-meters and was also part of the Lumberjacks' two relay teams, helping North Tonawanda to a spot in the 4x400-meter relay finals. She is also expected to pursue a physical therapy major at UB.

"Jackie has been the leading middle distance runner in Section VI and will really set the stage for UB’s continued strength in the middle distance events over her four years," said Mitchell. "We’re excited to have two of the top Western New York student-athletes [Holmes and Burns] committed to coming to UB."

A member of the Mid-American Conference, the University at Buffalo cross country and track and field programs compete at the NCAA Division I national level.