UB Men's Outdoor Track & Field Announces Awards

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's outdoor track and field squad presented its team awards for the 2006 season at the conclusion of competition in June.

Head coach Perry Jenkins made the following presentations: Jake Madonia (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was selected as the Top Newcomer; P.J. Godios (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Bryan Weinstein (Getzville, NY/Williamsville North) received the Coaches' Award; and Roy Richards (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) was named Most Outstanding.

Jake Madonia

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student-athlete who distinguishes himself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Madonia scored eighth-place finishes in the shot put and discus and the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships. He set career-best shot put (51-11.75) and discus (156-1) marks at Akron's Campbell/Wright Open the week before the MAC meet.

P.J. Godios

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in his performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Godios improved on his javelin throws throughout the season, setting a personal-best with his toss of 179-5 at the Northeast Ohio Invitational on April 22. Godios posted an eighth-place finish at the MAC Championships with his throw of 171-3.

Bryan Weinstein

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. Weinstein, who also received the Coaches' Award for the indoor track and field season, was UB's top sprinter in the outdoor season, setting UB’s top individual time with a personal record in the 100-meters (10.75) at the Bucknell Bison Open, where he also posted UB’s top time (21.60) in the 200-meters, winning the event. He ran the opening leg for UB’s record-setting 4x100-meter relay team (40.99) which finished second at the MAC Championships and also anchored the 4x400-meter relay team to a season-best time of 3:17.77 at the Northeast Ohio Invitational.

Roy Richards

The Most Outstanding Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Richards, the recipient of the indoor track and field team's Most Outstanding Award, represented UB at the NCAA Outdoor Championships placing 17th in the long jump at 24-0.75. He advanced to the NCAA meet after finishing fourth with a school-record leap of 24-11 and All-East honors at the NCAA East Regional Championships. Richards finished sixth in the long jump at the MAC Championships.

The Bulls completed their season with a seventh-place finish at the MAC Championships and tied for 38th among 54 teams at the NCAA East Regional Championships.