Roelofsen Earns Second Trip to NCAA Finals

Vanessa Roelofsen

TALLAHASSEE, FL – University at Buffalo senior Vanessa Roelofsen (Alma, Ontario/Norwell District SS) earned her second trip to the NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships with her fourth-place finish in the javelin throw on Friday at the NCAA East Regionals at Florida State University.

Roelofsen, who earned a trip to the 2006 National Championships, had a top throw of 163-1 (49.72m) to finish fourth overall in the event. The top five finishers in each event earn automatic bids to the National Championships, June 11-14, in Des Moines, IA. Roelofsen’s throw was seven inches off her top throw of the 2008 season (163-8, 49.88m) set on May 10 at Akron’s Campbell/Wright Open. Roelofsen finished 16th in the 2006 in Sacramento, CA.

Freshman javelin teammate Katie Weston (North Bay, Ontario/Widdifield SS) finished 29th overall with a throw of 104-3 (31.79m).

Sophomore pole vaulter Tiffany Maskulinski (Elma, NY/Iroquois) tied for seventh in her event at a height of 12-6 (3.81m). Maskulinski cleared the opening heights of 12-0 (3.66m) and 12-6 (3.81m) on her first attempts but was unable to clear the bar when it was raised to 12-11.75 (3.96m) with her three attempts. Maskulinski tied for the seventh spot with Navy’s Jacqui Charnigo as both vaulters cleared their earlier heights on their first attempts. South Florida’s Dana Webb also cleared 12-6 (3.81m) but was declared ninth based on her three attempts to clear the opening height and her two attempts at the next level.

Junior long jumper Fatimah Hill (Waterport, NY/Lyndonville) placed 22nd in her event. She finished with a top distance of 18-3 (5.56m).

In the men’s meet, UB’s lone participant, junior Alex Stamatakis (Hania, Crete, Greece/First Technical & Vocational School of Greece), placed 16th in the shot put. Stamatakis finished with a top throw of 55-0 (16.76m), two inches off his season-best and regional qualifying mark of 55-2 (16.81m).

By virtue of their finishes in the top eight, Roelofsen and Maskulinski also earned All-East honors. It was the third consecutive All-East recognition for Roelofsen, who finished second in 2006 and eighth in 2007.