Roelofsen Wins MAC Javelin Championship

Vanessa Roelofsen

BOWLING GREEN, OH – University at Buffalo senior Vanessa Roelofsen (Alma, Ontario/Norwell District SS) won her second consecutive Mid-American Conference javelin title Thursday night as the 2008 MAC Men's and Women's Track and Field Championships kicked off at Bowling Green.

Roelofsen won the competition with a toss of 154-10 (47.20m), more than two feet better than the second-place finisher, Bekah Stoltz of Kent State (152-3, 46.42m). It was the second consecutive MAC title for Roelofsen, a First Team All-MAC honoree last season and Second Team All-MAC selection in 2005 and 2006. UB freshman Katie Weston (North Bay, Ontario/Widdifield SS) was third in the javelin with a toss of 147-9 (45.04m) and junior Amanda Bialkowski (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) set a personal best with her throw of 122-11 (37.48m) to place ninth.

Katie Weston

In the women's pole vault, sophomore Tiffany Maskulinski (Elma, NY/Iroquois) finished fifth with a height of 12-3.50 (3.75m). Senior Carrie Hinners (Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove) placed ninth in the event at a season-best 11-5.75 (3.50m).

Matt Gac

Freshman Matt Gac (Newark Valley, NY/Newark Valley) and senior George Fetchko (Warren, OH/Howland) produced lifetime-bests in the men's hammer throw to highlight the UB men on Thursday. Gac finished fourth with a toss of 180-8 (55.06m) while Fetchko took sixth at 165-5 (50.41m). Both men improved their top production in the event by six feet.

George Fetchko

In the multi events, UB senior Patrice Coney (Lyons, NY/Lyons) leads the women's heptathlon after the first day. Through four of the seven events, Coney, the defending champion in the event, has collected 3,198 points and leads Western Michigan's Danielle Brown by 164 points. Coney set season-best marks in the high jump (5-5.75, 1.67m), tying for first and the 100-meter hurdles (14.16), finishing second. She finished second to Brown in the 200-meters in 25.23. Freshman Adam Bolles (Darien Center, NY/Alexander Central) stands sixth of 10 entrants in the men's decathlon with a five-event score of 3,104 points.

After the first day of competition, the UB women stand third among the 12 MAC schools with 20 points, trailing Akron (58) and Ohio University (22). The UB men, with their finishes in the hammer throw, have posted eight points to stand sixth in the six-team race.

Competition continues through Saturday.

Women's scores (through four events): Akron 58, Ohio 22, UB 20, Kent State 11, Bowling Green 11, Eastern Michigan 9, Central Michigan 8, Western Michigan 5, Ball State 5, Miami (OH) 4, Toledo 3, Northern Illinois 0.

Men's scores (through three events): Kent State 40, Central Michigan 19, Eastern Michigan 19, Miami (OH) 18, Akron 13, UB 8.