UB Women's Indoor Track & Field Announces Awards

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's indoor track and field squad presented its team awards for the 2007 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at the Millennium Hotel on May 1.

Head coach Vicki Mitchell made the following presentations: Octavia Johnston (Syracuse, NY/Fowler) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Fatimah Hill (Waterport, NY/Lyndonville) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Tina Villa (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) received the Coaches’ Award; and Sarah Vance (Lockport, NY/Lockport) was named Most Outstanding.

Octavia Johnston

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. Johnston set the UB women's record in the 60-meter dash at the 2007 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships. Johnston turned in a time of 7.73 seconds to finish seventh in the finals and earn an ECAC qualifying standard. At the ECAC's Johnston finished 19th of 30 in the 60-meters in 7.78 seconds. She also finished ninth at the MAC indoor meet in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 37-3 (11.35m).

Fatimah Hill

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. Hill, who set the UB outdoor long jump record as a freshman in 2006, broke the indoor long jump mark with a leap of 19-4 (5.89m) at Penn State's Sykes-Sabock Challenge on February 10, placing second among a field of 32. She finished third at the MAC Indoor Championships with a distance of 18-9.75 (5.73m) and 10th at the ECAC Indoor Championships.

Tina Villa

The Coaches’ 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. Villa set an indoor shot put personal-best of 48-6.75 (14.80m) at the Penn State Sykes-Sabock Challenge on February 10, placing eight among 26 entrants, including many of the country's top throwers. She earned All-East honors with her fourth-place shot put toss of 48-2.50 (14.69m) at the ECAC Indoor Championships in Boston. Villa also finished eighth at the MAC Indoor Championships with a toss of 46-5.50 (14.16m). In the classroom, Villa was named to the Academic All-MAC indoor track and field squad.

Sarah Vance

The Most Outstanding Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through her skills and leadership. Vance had a stellar indoor campaign, culminating with MAC and ECAC titles in the women's shot put and a 15th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. Vance was twice named MAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week and set the school record in the indoor shot put with a toss of 52-8.75 (16.07m) to win the competition at the Penn State National Meet on January 27. She won the MAC indoor shot put title with a throw of 51-10 (15.80m), more than a foot better than the second-place finisher. She also garnered All-MAC and All-East recognitions during the season. Prior to her participation at the NCAA's National Championships, she had won the women’s shot put in five of the seven meets that she entered and finished third in the other two against NCAA-caliber opposition. Vance also led the Bulls in the indoor weight throw with a top toss of 58-8.75 (17.90m) at the MAC Championships to place second. Vance also excelled in the classroom, earning a spot on the Academic All-MAC team in 2007.

The Bulls completed their season with a sixth-place finish at the MAC Championships and placed 12th among 51 scoring teams at the ECAC Championships.