TRACK & FIELD

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AKRON, OH - The University at Buffalo men's and women's track and field teams tuned up for the Mid-American Conference Championships with strong showings against league rival Akron on Sunday. Although officially called the Akron Quadrangular Meet, only UB and the host Zips were scored in the events, with UB's men defeating the hosts 100-82. The UB women fell to the Zips by an 88-64 margin. Men's and women's entrants from Kent State and Toledo also competed but did not score.

Mario Hicks

Men's sprinter Mario Hicks (Corning, NY/Painted Post) was victorious in a pair of speed events for the Bulls. Hicks took the 100-meter dash in 10.89 and the 110-meter hurdles in 14.70, just missing his school record for the event by four-hundredths of a second. Hicks also led the 4x100 relay team to a first place finish in 41.55.

Byron McKinney (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) won two throwing events on Sunday. The senior broke his own school record in the shot put with a toss of 55-11.25 (17.05m), bettering his mark set at the Alabama Relays by an inch and a half. McKinney also took the discus throw at 133-3 (40.63m).

Other men's field event winners included Todd Joki (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) in the long jump (22-1.75, 6.75m) and Gary Asbach (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) in the triple jump (44-7, 13.59m). On the track, Joe Clark (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) won the 200-meters in 21.68. Jerimie Slick (Rochester, NY/Greece-Olympia) took the 1500-meters in 3:57.08 and Onile White (Bronx, NY/DeWitt Clinton) won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:58.2.

Christina Keck

Women's middle distance specialist Christina Keck (Erie, PA/McDowell) turned in a strong performance in the 800-meters to lead the Bulls. The senior clocked a first-place time of 2:10.15. Keck's time qualified her for the upcoming NCAA Regional meet and was a personal best and Lee Jackson Track and Field Complex record.

Joining Keck on the winner's podium for the UB women was Faith Thompson (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls). The junior took the hammer throw at 176-0 (53.64m) and the shot put (44-4, 13.51m). Biaunca McFarland (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) won the triple jump at 40-10.50 (12.45m). Laura Olson (Lyons, NY/Lyons) placed first in the pole vault at 12-5.50 (3.80m). Jessica Moldovan (Warren, PA/Warren Area) won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 11:24.5.

The squads are back in action at the MAC Championships starting May 15 at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI.