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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's outdoor track and field squad presented its team awards at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Head coach Perry Jenkins made the following presentations: Mike Giordano (Springville, NY/Springville) earned the Top Newcomer Award; Andy Wigton (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Todd Joki (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) received the Coaches' Award; and Brian Heim (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) was named Most Outstanding Player.

Mike Giordano

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. Giordano was the team's top weight thrower, earning team highs in the hammer and shot put. His best shot put of the season was at the MAC Championships with a distance of 54-10.25 (16.72m), placing him seventh in the competition and qualifying him for the NCAA East Regionals. He finished 17th (52-9.25/16.08m) in the shot put at the NCAA East Regional meet.

Andy Wigton

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. Wigton was one of the Bulls' top distance performers, setting the team's fastest marks in the 3,000-meter run (8:43.78), 5,000-meter run (14:26.91) and 10,000-meter run (31:19.26). He earned an eighth-place finish in the 5,000-meters in 14:49.37 at the MAC Championships.

Todd Joki

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. Joki had the top team performances in the 200-meter dash (22.24), 400-meter dash (49.35), 110-meter hurdles (14.31), high jump (6-2.75/1.90m), long jump (23-10.00/7.26m) and decathlon (6,779 points). His time in the 110-meter hurdles was a school record and qualified him for the NCAA East Regionals. Joki posted an eighth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.63 and also ran on both of UB's sixth-place relay squads at the MAC Championships. He finished 25th (14.55) in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA East Regional meet.

Brian Heim

The Most Outstanding Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Heim posted a team-best 52.26 in the 400-meter hurdles at the MAC Championship meet, placing second and qualifying him for the NCAA East Regionals. He was part of the team's top times in the 400-meter relay (42.24) and 1,600-meter relay (3:19.72) during the season. He finished 20th (52.48) in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA East Regionals.

The Bulls completed their season with a seventh-place finish at the MAC Championships and sent three athletes to the NCAA East Regional meet.

~ written by Jim Parker, Athletic Communications Intern