BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's outdoor track and field squad announced its team awards for the 2003-04 season.

Head coach Vicki Mitchell presented her squad with the following awards: Patrice Coney (Lyons, NY/Lyons) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Jenny Koeppel (Amherst, NY/Amherst) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Laura Olson (Lyons, NY/Lyons) received the Coaches' Award; and Allison Laske (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Patrice Coney

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. Coney won the women's heptathlon at the UB Open, scoring a personal-best 4,661 points. She then placed sixth in the heptathlon at the 2004 MAC Outdoor Championships (4,584 points).

Jenny Koeppel

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. Koeppel became UB's first athlete to win a MAC Championship running event when she claimed the 10,000-meter title, setting a UB record with her 35:43.27 clocking and earning All-MAC First Team honors. Koeppel also set the school record in the 5,000-meter run (16:52.83) and placed third in the event (16:53.58) at the MAC Championships.

Laura Olson

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. Olson earned All-MAC Second Team honors after placing second in the pole vault (13-3.50) at the 2004 MAC Championships. Olson continuously improved the UB pole vault record establishing a best height of 13-5.75 at the NCAA Eastern Regionals and finishing third overall. She completed her college career tying for 15th place at the NCAA Championships vaulting 12-9.50. It was the third consecutive appearance for Olson at the NCAA meet following the 2003 Outdoor and 2004 Indoor Championships.

Allison Laske

The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through her skills and leadership. Laske established school outdoor records in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. Her mark of 2:04.81 at Stanford's Cardinal Invitational in April broke the previous mark by five seconds and established her as one of the top middle-distance runners in the country. She finished fourth at the NCAA East Regionals and 13th overall at the NCAA Championships in the 800-meter race. She completed her career with an appearance in the 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, finishing in 2:09.65, but was eliminated after the first round.

UB's women's squad placed eighth at the MAC Championships in Oxford, OH. The Bulls also tied for 17th at the NCAA East Regional Championships.