YPSILANTI, MI - University at Buffalo senior Sarah Fletcher (Ridgeway, Ontario/Ridgeway-Crystal Beach) won her fourth Mid-American Conference title Thursday afternoon with her victory in the women's hammer throw at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Ypsilanti, MI. After the first day of the three-day meet, UB's women are tied for third with Bowling Green and Toledo at 10 points apiece while the Bulls' men are tied for eighth place with Bowling Green with three points. Ball State leads the women's meet with 19 points and host Eastern Michigan tops the men's field with 20.

Sarah Fletcher

Fletcher won the event with a throw of 184-0 (56.08m). It was the second outdoor hammer throw title in her career. Fletcher won the title in 2000 with a throw of 183-6. She also captured the MAC women's indoor weight throw titles in 2000 and 2001.

Men's distance specialist Jerimie Slick (Rochester, NY/Greece-Olympia) set a school record in the 10,000 meters on Thursday night. Slick clocked a 30:35.50 to finish sixth overall and break the mark set by Todd Ludden (Hornell, NY/Hornell) of 30:54.58 earlier this season. Ludden placed 16th in the race in 31:59.61. Melissa Burrows (Norwood, NY/Norwood-Norfolk) finished 10th in the women's 10,000 meters in 37:11.83.

Jerimie Slick

Multi-event athletes Steve Esler (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) and Meagan Rogers (Courtenay, BC/George P. Vanier) had impressive showings after the first day of the decathlon and heptathlon competitions, respectively. Esler is third in the decathlon with 3,431 points in the two-day competition. He won the shot put portion of the event with a toss of 40-8.75 (12.41m) to beat Western Michigan's Mike Armock by a foot. Rogers stands fourth after four events of the heptathlon with 2,907 points. She won the 100 hurdles in 14.47 seconds.

Men's hammer thrower Byron McKinney (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) placed 14th in his event with a throw of 157-0 (47.86m).

Competition continues on Friday and Saturday.

MEN'S SCORES: Eastern Michigan 20, Central Michigan 12, Ball State 10, Akron 10, Western Michigan 10, Marshall 5, Toledo 5, UB 3, Bowling Green 3.

WOMEN'S SCORES: Ball State 19, Kent State 18, UB 10, Bowling Green 10, Toledo 10, Western Michigan 8, Miami 3.