TRACK & FIELD

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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's outdoor track and field squad presented its team awards for the 2001 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at Samuel's Grande Manor.

Head coach Dick Barry made the following presentations: Laura Olson (Lyons, NY/Lyons) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Jenelle Callender (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Katie Love (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) received the Coach's Award; and Biaunca McFarland (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) was named the team's 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. Olson, a freshman, has broken the UB pole vault record twice this season. Olson started the season vaulting 11-0 (3.35m) in her first collegiate outdoor meet, the Seahawk Invitational in Wilmington, NC on March 10, for the win. She followed with a victory at the Ohio University McDonald's Invitational on April 7 with a record-setting mark of 11-6 (3.51m). That vault currently stands seventh in the Mid-American Conference.

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. Callender, a sophomore sprinter, turned in top times of 12.20 in the 100-meters and 24.82 in the 200-meters at the McDonald's Invitational. She holds the school records in both events from her freshman season. Both times rank among the top marks in the MAC this season.

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. Love, a junior heptathlete, scored 3,625 points in the UB Open heptathlon on April 14 for her best performance this season.

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. McFarland , a sophomore spinter and jumper, has broken her own triple jump record several times this season. McFarland held the mark as a freshman at 39-0.25 (11.89m) and has improved to 40-4.25 (12.30m), setting the current mark at the McDonald's Invitational, winning the event by more than four feet. She also turned in UB's top 400-meter time this season with her 57.63 clocking. She won the Eastern Triple Jump competition with a leap of 40-2 (12.24m) at the Penn Relays. Her 100-meter time of 12.31 and 200-meter mark of 25.02 both rank second on the squad behind Callender.

The Bulls completed their dual meet season with a 2-1 record. They travel to Oxford, OH for the Mid-American Conference Championships on May 17-19.