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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women'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: Faith Thompson (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Katie Scott (Salamanca, NY/ Salamanca) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Erin Mullaney (Lockport, NY/Lockport) received the Coach's Award; and Sarah Fletcher (Ridgeway, ONT/Ridgeway-Crystal Beach) was named the team Most Valuable Player.

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student- athlete who distinguishes herself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Thompson, a thrower, broke UB's shot put record in her first collegiate meet, the Katie Almeter Invitational at Colgate, establishing a new UB mark of 41-2 (12.57m). Fletcher currently holds the mark at 43-1.50 (13.14m). Thompson's top shot put mark of the season was set at the Kent State Winter Open on December 9 with a distance of 42-9.50 (13.04m), placing seventh among 19 entrants. She also turned in a top toss of 50-0 (15.24m) in the 20-lb. weight throw at the meet.

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student- athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in her performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Scott, a hurdler and middle distance runner, turned in a top 500 meter time of 1:18.37 at the Cornell Invitational on January 20. Scott won the UB Invitational 800 meters in 2:20.80 and lowered her top time to 2:14.25 at the United States Track Coaches Association Invitational on February 10 in University Park, PA. She also had a 60-meter high hurdles best time of 9.64, and a 300-meter low hurdles time of 46.21 at the Kent State Winter Open.

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. Mullaney, a distance runner, had her best mile performance of the season at the Eastern Michigan Invitational with a 5:34.54 clocking.

The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through her skills and leadership. Fletcher , the Bulls' top thrower, became UB's first athlete to win three Mid-American Conference titles when she won her second consecutive 20-lb. weight throw at the league meet, earning first- team All-MAC honors. She won the event with a school-record toss of 59-1.5 (18.02m), breaking the previous record of 58-6.5 (17.84m) that she set the previous week at the Cornell Kane Invitational. Her winning toss at the Cornell meet earned her MAC Athlete of the Week honors and provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row.

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