BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's and women's outdoor track and field squad presented its team awards for the 2001-02 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at Samuel's Grande Manor.

Head coach Dick Barry made the following presentations to the men's squad: Bryan Weinstein (Getzville, NY/Williamsville North) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Tom Abbey (Arcade, NY/Pioneer) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Ben Cady (Buffalo, NY/City Honors) received the Coach's Award; and Byron McKinney (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Barry presented the women's squad with the following awards: April Pabilonia (Clarence, NY/Clarence) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Meagan Rogers (Courtenay, BC/George P. Vanier) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Alison Laske (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) received the Coach's Award; and Sarah Fletcher (Ridgeway, ON/Ridgeway-Crystal Beach) was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Bryan Weinstein

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student-athlete who distinguishes himself/herself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Weinstein, a sprinter, was part of UB's 800-meter relay team that broke an eight-year old school record with a 1:27.27 finish at North Carolina State's Raleigh Relays on March 30-31. He was also part of the 4x100 team that took first at the SUNY Centers Championships in Binghamton on April 4 with a school record-breaking time of 41.53. Pabilonia, a sprinter and jumper, set a school record with her long jump victory at the UB Open at 18-9.25 (5.72m). She also finished first at the SUNY Centers Championships in the 100 meters in 12.29. She was also part of the 400- and 800-meter relay squads that established new records during the season.

April Pabilonia

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in his/her performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Abbey, a sprinter, was part of the 4x400 meter relay squad that took first at the UB Open, finishing in 3:37.42. Rogers swept the hurdles competition at the UB Open on May 3-4, finishing with a 15.09 in the 100 and a 1:02.10 in the 400-meter distances. She was also part of the winning 4x400 relay squad finishing in 3:53.50 at the SUNY Centers Championships.

Byron McKinney

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. Cady, a distance specialist, was victorious in the 10,000 at last weekend's UB Open, completing the distance in 32:47.05. Laske, a middle-distance runner, turned in a first-place performance at the UB Open in the 400 meters at 59.04.

Sarah Fletcher

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/her skills and leadership. McKinney, a thrower, won both the shot put at 52-9 (16.09m) and the hammer at 160-7 (48.95m) at the SUNY Centers Championships. He broke his own school record in the event at the UB Open with a toss of 55-7 (16.95m), breaking the mark of 54-7.25 (16.64m) that he shared with teammate Joe Loiacono (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena). Fletcher established a new mark in the hammer throw at the Penn Relays with a toss of 187-10 (57.27m) for second place. Her throw set a new Mid-American Conference record and provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships. Fletcher is a three-time MAC champion and first-ever UB champion at the Penn Relays. She was also named UB's 2001-02 Female Athlete of the Year.

The Bulls finish their regular season next weekend at the MAC Championships in Ypsilanti, MI.