Steve Esler

BUFFALO, NY Syracuse University holds a slim lead in both the men's and women's competitions with the first two events of the UB Open complete in track and field competition at UB Stadium. In the men's meet, the Orangemen lead UB 17-15 while the Syracuse women lead the Bulls 22-16.

Syracuse athletes took three of four events as the men's and women's javelin and hammer throws were the only competitions scored on Friday. In the women's javelin, Syracuse's Kristen Lunetta won the event with a throw of 142-7.75 (43.49m). Syracuse's Johvonne Hernandez took the hammer throw at 184-5.75 (56.23m). UB's Sarah Vance (Lockport, NY/Lockport) set a season-best in the event with a throw of 165-1 (50.32m) to take third.

In the men's competition, UB's Steve Esler (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) took the javelin with a throw of 168-2.75 (51.28m), more than 24 feet better than his previous best toss of the season set at the McDonald's Invitational on April 3. Syracuse's Steve Bedard won the hammer throw at 152-11.25 (46.61m).

UB athletes lead in both the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon competitions. In the decathlon, UB's Todd Joki (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) won all five events in the first day to collect 3,789 points, nearly 500 better than second-place Craig Stivala of Syracuse. UB's Patrice Coney (Lyons, NY/Lyons) holds a 149-point lead (2,837-2,688) over Syracuse's Tatiana Warren in the heptathlon. Coney won three of the four events in Friday's action.

Competition continues Saturday starting at 9:00 am.