ATHENS, OH - The University at Buffalo's women's track and field team scored a convincing victory Saturday at the McDonald's Invitational held at Ohio University. The Bulls scored 168 points in the eight-team meet to finish ahead of MAC rivals Ohio (146) and Bowling Green (137) to claim the title. Meanwhile, UB's men placed third among eight squads with 135 points to finish behind Eastern Michigan (187.50) and Ohio (150).

Faith Thompson

Leading UB's women's fortunes was junior Faith Thompson (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) as she won a pair of throwing events. Thompson bettered her own school record in the shot put with a winning toss of 46-8 (14.22m) to solidify her NCAA Regional Meet qualifying mark. Thompson also scored a personal best in the hammer throw with a throw of 165-3 (50.38m), more than four inches than her previous best.

Pole vaulter Laura Olson (Lyons, NY/Lyons) tied her existing school record to win the event at 12-6 (3.81m). Olson, who had set the mark at the season-opening Alabama Relays two weeks ago, won Saturday's competition by a foot over the second-place finisher, Ohio's Jill Miranda.

Biaunca McFarland (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) also won two events for the Bulls, taking the triple jump at 38-7.50 (11.27m) and the 200-meter dash in 25.10. She also earned a second-place finish in the 100-meters in 12.86. The Bulls took the top three spots in the triple jump with Jennifer Anderson (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech) and Kate Kohout (Clarence, NY/Clarence) finishing behind McFarland. Anderson turned in a leap of 36-5.75 (11.12m) while Kohout finished just a quarter-inch behind at 36-5.50 (11.11m).

Todd Joki

Freshman Todd Joki (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) was the lone UB men's athlete to score a first-place finish. Joki won the 400-meter hurdles in 54.32. He also took third place in the long jump at 22-11.50 (7.00m).

Keith Gentes (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken) qualified for the NCAA Regional Meet with a hammer throw of 179-5 (54.69m) to finish second. Byron McKinney (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) also took a pair of second-place finishes in the shot put (51-9.50/15.79m) and discus (144-9/44.12m).

Other second-place finishes were turned in by Rick Stewart (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) in the 5,000-meters (15:07.85) and Gary Asbach (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) in the triple jump (44-9/13.64m).

The Bulls return to action with the always-competitive Sea Ray Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee. The Knoxville meet is traditionally one of the toughest on the UB schedule with top competition from throughout the country expected to be in attendance.