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Vance Sets UB Shot Put Record, Earns Trip to National Finals

Sarah Vance

GAINESVILLE, FL – Competition concluded Friday evening at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Florida’s James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track with two University at Buffalo women's athletes scoring in the finals.

Sarah Vance (Lockport, NY/Lockport) earned her first trip to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships with her finish in the women’s shot put on Friday. Vance, who represented UB at the Indoor National Championships in March, came up with a school record heave of 51-9.75 (15.79m) to place fourth among 28 finishers in the event. Vance bettered the UB record of 50-9.25 (15.47m) set by Faith Thompson in the 2005 season. Vance also picked up All-East honors with the finish as the top eight placers in each event earn the distinction. Virginia Tech thrower and Niagara Falls native Brittany Pryor won the competition with a throw of 54-7.50 (16.65m).

UB teammate Tina Villa (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) finished 10th with a toss of 48-10.25 (14.89m).

Vanessa Roelofsen (Alma, Ontario/Norwell District SS) earned a point in the women’s javelin competition with her eighth-place finish and season-best throw of 153-2 (46.68m). Roelofsen, the Mid-American Conference champion in the javelin at the league meet two weeks ago, also tallied All-East honors with the finish.

Men’s hurdler Reggie Rucker (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) was denied a chance of advancing into the championship finals of both the 110-meter and 400-meter events. Rucker placed 10th in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.28 seconds, finishing third in his preliminary race. He also finished 14th in the 400-meter hurdles, turning in a finish of 51.76 seconds, third in the heat. Eight hurdlers reached the finals of both events.

Men’s long jumper Roy Richards (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) finished 11th in his event with his best leap of 23-11.75 (7.31m) occurring on the second of his three attempts. The top nine jumpers moved into the finals with Richards just missing a spot in the finals by two and a half inches.

In the women’s high jump, sophomore Caitlin Godin (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) tied for 17th with a height of 5-7.25 (1.71m). Godin cleared the opening height, but was unsuccessful at the next height of 5-9.25 (1.76m) in her three attempts.

With Vance and Roelofsen scoring points for the UB women, the Bulls have six points to stand in a tie for 14th place with Jacksonville and Robert Morris. Thirty women’s teams have scored through the five completed events with Georgia leading the way at 17. The UB men failed to score on Friday. Liberty leads the pack with 22 points after the first day as 28 men’s programs scored through the first five events on Friday.

The top five finishers in each event earn a spot in the NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, CA. The meet will be June 7-10. Regional championships are also being held this weekend in Columbia, MO, Des Moines, IA and Eugene, OR.

Competition concludes Saturday as Vance competes in the women’s hammer throw. Shot putter Jake Madonia (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and triple jumper Rayshon Higgins (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon-St. Jude) will compete in men’s events.