MAC Championships
Jones Takes Men's Shot Put, Siuciak Wins Women's Heptathlon Titles
5/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
AKRON, OH –Jonathan Jones continued the University at Buffalo's dominance in the men's shot put while Emma Siuciak broke her school record and claimed UB's third-ever MAC heptathlon title on Friday at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Akron's Lee R. Jackson Complex.
Jones won UB's fourth consecutive men's shot put title with a season-best throw of 62-7.75 (19.09m), adding five inches to his previous best that he set at the Florida Relays in early April. Jones posted his top throw on his fifth of six attempts, fouling on his final attempt. By the time the sixth and final round commenced, Jones led the competition by more than six feet and finished as the only thrower to eclipse 19 meters. Akron's Nicholas Banke finished second as his sixth throw sailed 56-4.75 (17.19m), but was nowhere close to Jones' mark.
The winning heave by Jones was fourth-longest throw to claim a MAC title behind Rob Golabek's 62-11.75 in 2011 and two winning tosses by Central Michigan's Bruno Pauletto of better than 63 feet in 1977 and 1978. Golabek won the previous three outdoor shot put titles for the Bulls from 2010-12.
Siuciak won her first and UB's third women's heptathlon title as she held on to her first-day lead and finished the seven-event competition with 5,388 points, adding 195 points to her previous record set in April at the California Invitational Heptathlon. Siuciak defeated Western Michigan's Kathryn Pickett by 59 points (5,329). Although Pickett won two of Friday's three events, Siuciak finished the second day with second-place finishes in the long jump (18-7.75, 5.68m) and 800-meters (2:22.11) and a third-place showing in the javelin (110-3, 33.60m).
The MAC title by Siuciak was the third for the UB women after Patrice Coney won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.
Katie Sanders broke her own school record in finishing second in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Sanders finished in 10:35.99, shaving almost nine seconds from her previous record set at April's Sam Howell Invitational at Princeton University. Chrissy Clarkin finished fifth in a season-best 10:44.39, cutting 12 seconds from her previous best.
In other Friday finals, the Bulls had two scorers in the women's shot put and three in the men's long jump.
Rachel Roberts finished third in the women's shot put with a season-best throw of 50-11.50 (15.53m). Roberts added nearly a foot to her previous best toss. Kristy Woods finished fifth at 50-5.50 (15.38m). In the men's long jump, the Bulls took the fifth, sixth and seventh places. Tomarris Bell placed fifth at 23-4.75 (7.13m) while Donald McCann was sixth at 23-4 (7.11m) and Austin Ashby was seventh at 23-2.75 (7.08m). Evan Palmer finished eighth in the men's hammer throw for the Bulls at 168-9 (51.43m).
The Bulls had several athletes qualify for Saturday's finals in their respective races.
Miles Lewis qualified second in the men's 100-meters in 10.57 seconds while Darien Johnson qualified seventh in a season-best 10.73 seconds. However, Lewis, the 2012 MAC champion in the 200-meters, missed making the finals as he placed 10th in 21.99. Ryan Billian qualified fourth in 21.58. Billian also qualified fourth in the men's 110-meter hurdles in 14.14. Brooklynn Ventura qualified fourth in the women's 100-meter hurdles in 13.69. Meghan Manley qualified fourth in the women's 800-meters in 2:10.33. In the 400-meter hurdles, Will Cole qualified fourth in the men's race in 53.03 while Donna Jeanty qualified fourth in the women's race in a season-best 1:00.12 while Regine Lazard qualified eighth in 1:01.77. Camaria Long qualified sixth in the women's 200-meters in 24.43.
Through seven events, the UB women have taken the lead with 53.50 points ahead of second-place Kent State with 50 points. The UB men stand fifth with 32 points as Akron leads the meet with 73 points.
Competition concludes Saturday.
Women's team scores (through seven events): Buffalo 53.50, Kent State 50, Akron 44, Miami (OH) 27, Eastern Michigan 24.50, Central Michigan 23, Toledo 17, Bowling Green 12, Western Michigan 11, Ohio 9, Northern Illinois 2, Ball State 0.
Men's team scores (through seven events): Akron 73, Kent State 50, Miami (OH) 48, Eastern Michigan 39, Buffalo 32, Central Michigan 31.
