Men’s Track and Field Team in Second Place After Day One of MAC Championships
5/7/2021 8:59:00 PM | Track and Field
OXFORD, Ohio – Day one of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outdoor Track and Field wrapped up on Friday evening. The University at Buffalo track and field team had solid performances on both the track and in the field events. After the first day of competition the men's team sits in second place with 45.5 points, as the women's team is in 10th place with 3.5 points. The men's team just sit 1.5 points behind Miami (OH) for first place. Day two of the MAC Championships will begin tomorrow, Saturday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m.
William Hilbert gave the Bulls the early lead as he would win the 10,000-meter run in a new school record time of 29:33.88. Scott Loforte finished in fifth place in 30:04.78 with Armani Merlino capturing sixth place in 30:35.48. Hilbert now ranks 39th in the NCAA East Region. The team racked up 13 points in the event.
For the 11th consecutive MAC Outdoor Championship, the Bulls will take home the gold medal in the men's shot put dating back to the 2010 outdoor season. Jonathan Surdej was crowned as the shot put champion as he had a personal best distance of 17.77-meters (58'-03.75"). He is now 44th in the NCAA East Region. Freshman Quinn Smith finished in sixth place with a toss of 15.68-meters (51'-05.50").
Lockport, N.Y. native Sam Wray finished third in the discus with a toss of 50.26-meters (164'-10") earning the bronze medal.
Other finals today for the men included the Men's PV with 5th year senior Jason Farrell having a personal best and tying for 5th in 15'5", Jacob Liberati having a personal best in the Men's Long Jump of 22'9.75 for 5th place.
The final event for the men was the 3,000-meter steeplechase, which was run through a massive rain and wind-storm. Thomas Flannery ran to a new personal best and silver medal finish in 9:12.97, as freshman Sean O'Brien placed fourth in a personal best time of 9:23.45.
Advancing from today's prelims to tomorrow's finals are Jeremy Lissade in the 100-meter dash, Christopher Nowak in the 800-meter run, and Jaron Meyer, Lissade, and Elijah Kerner in the 200-meter dash. The men's decathlon will continue tomorrow where Michael Wolford sits in fifth place.
The women's team saw several new personal best marks today. Christina Wende earned an eighth place finish in the long jump on her last jump, leaping to 18'-10.00". The competition was incredibly close as just 5 centimeters separated eighth and third place. Earnie Burapan jumped a personal best height of 12'-06.00" to earn seventh place and Violet Drinkwater tied for eighth in her first outdoor MAC Championships in the pole vault.
After day one of the women's heptathlon, freshman Scilla Benussi is in seventh place.
On the track, Priscilla Faa ran two personal best races. Starting in the 200-meter dash, she ran her first sub-25.00 second finish in 24.82 seconds, narrowly missing the finals tomorrow. She also ran a personal best in the 100-meter dash of 11.98 seconds. Travasia Singletary ran a personal best of 12.02 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Fifth year senior Hannah Seiders ran to a personal best of 1:03.71 in the 400-meter hurdles, as Amy Villarini ran to a season's best of 56.24.
CHAMPIONSHIP STATNDINGS AFTER DAY ONE
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
For news and updates about the UB track & field teams, follow them on Twitter and check the official website of the UB Bulls. For this year's media guide, click here.
William Hilbert gave the Bulls the early lead as he would win the 10,000-meter run in a new school record time of 29:33.88. Scott Loforte finished in fifth place in 30:04.78 with Armani Merlino capturing sixth place in 30:35.48. Hilbert now ranks 39th in the NCAA East Region. The team racked up 13 points in the event.
For the 11th consecutive MAC Outdoor Championship, the Bulls will take home the gold medal in the men's shot put dating back to the 2010 outdoor season. Jonathan Surdej was crowned as the shot put champion as he had a personal best distance of 17.77-meters (58'-03.75"). He is now 44th in the NCAA East Region. Freshman Quinn Smith finished in sixth place with a toss of 15.68-meters (51'-05.50").
Lockport, N.Y. native Sam Wray finished third in the discus with a toss of 50.26-meters (164'-10") earning the bronze medal.
Other finals today for the men included the Men's PV with 5th year senior Jason Farrell having a personal best and tying for 5th in 15'5", Jacob Liberati having a personal best in the Men's Long Jump of 22'9.75 for 5th place.
The final event for the men was the 3,000-meter steeplechase, which was run through a massive rain and wind-storm. Thomas Flannery ran to a new personal best and silver medal finish in 9:12.97, as freshman Sean O'Brien placed fourth in a personal best time of 9:23.45.
Advancing from today's prelims to tomorrow's finals are Jeremy Lissade in the 100-meter dash, Christopher Nowak in the 800-meter run, and Jaron Meyer, Lissade, and Elijah Kerner in the 200-meter dash. The men's decathlon will continue tomorrow where Michael Wolford sits in fifth place.
The women's team saw several new personal best marks today. Christina Wende earned an eighth place finish in the long jump on her last jump, leaping to 18'-10.00". The competition was incredibly close as just 5 centimeters separated eighth and third place. Earnie Burapan jumped a personal best height of 12'-06.00" to earn seventh place and Violet Drinkwater tied for eighth in her first outdoor MAC Championships in the pole vault.
After day one of the women's heptathlon, freshman Scilla Benussi is in seventh place.
On the track, Priscilla Faa ran two personal best races. Starting in the 200-meter dash, she ran her first sub-25.00 second finish in 24.82 seconds, narrowly missing the finals tomorrow. She also ran a personal best in the 100-meter dash of 11.98 seconds. Travasia Singletary ran a personal best of 12.02 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Fifth year senior Hannah Seiders ran to a personal best of 1:03.71 in the 400-meter hurdles, as Amy Villarini ran to a season's best of 56.24.
CHAMPIONSHIP STATNDINGS AFTER DAY ONE
| MEN | WOMEN |
| 1. Miami (OH) – 47 2. BUFFALO – 45.5 3. Eastern Michigan – 45 4. Akron – 32.5 5. Kent State - 16 |
1. Kent State – 36 2. Central Michigan – 33 T-3. Miami (OH) – 30 Northern Illinois – 30 5. Toledo – 28 6. Eastern Michigan – 26 7. Akron – 21.5 8. Ohio – 11 9. Western Michigan – 9 10. BUFFALO – 3.5 T-11. Ball State – 3 Bowling Green - 3 |
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
- Live Results
- Accepted Entries
- Heat Sheets
- Schedule of Events/Meet Information
- MAC Outdoor Men's Record Book
- MAC Outdoor Women's Record Book
For news and updates about the UB track & field teams, follow them on Twitter and check the official website of the UB Bulls. For this year's media guide, click here.
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