BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's indoor track and field squad presented its team awards for the 2000-01 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at Samuel's Grande Manor.

Head coach Dick Barry made the following presentations: Dan Minocchi (Canton, OH/Canton Central Catholic) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Keith Gentes (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Mark Curry (Brockport, NY/Brockport) received the Coach's Award; and Kamau Halim (Medina, NY/Medina) was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student- athlete who distinguishes himself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Minocchi joined the track and field squad after redshirting with the Bulls' football team in the 2000 season. A thrower, Minocchi turned in a record- setting shot put toss of 52-0 (15.90m) at the Eastern Michigan Invitational on February 3. He finished third in the event, behind throwers from Eastern Michigan and Pittsburgh. He placed 17th at the Mid-American Conference Championships on February 24 at 48-8.25 (14.84m).

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student- athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in his performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Gentes, another thrower, had a top mark of 56-5.25 (17.20m) in the 35-lb. weight throw at the MAC Championships. He finished sixth among 24 entrants, earning three points for the Bulls in the team scoring.

The Coach's Award is selected by the head coach and is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the team virtues as defined by the head coach. The recipient is one who stands out in dedication, commitment, unselfishness and enthusiasm towards helping the team improve. Curry, a jumper, had top marks of 20-3 (6.17m) in the long jump at the Kent State Winter Open on December 9 and 47-6.50 (14.49m) at the MAC Championships, placing seventh.

The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Halim, the Bulls' top triple and long jumper, won his second overall and first Mid-American Conference indoor title winning the triple jump with a Central Michigan Fieldhouse-record leap of 50-3.25 (15.32m), also establishing a new UB record, breaking the mark he had set in 1999. He also broke the UB long jump record with his winning leap of 23-10 (7.26m), breaking a mark from 1996. Halim earned first-team All-MAC honors with his victory in the triple jump after finishing second the year before.

The Bulls completed their season with a 3-0 dual meet record and placed seventh at the Mid-American Conference Championships in Mt. Pleasant, MI.