Bulls Prepare for MAC Championships

Friday, February 24

Bowling Green, OH

TBA

Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships

2/23/2023 1:15:00 PM | Track and Field

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The University at Buffalo Men's and Women's Track & Field Teams begin the 2-Day Mid-American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Friday, Feb. 24 at Perry Field House hosted by Bowling Green State University. During the regular season, the Bulls moved up in the MAC Rankings and in the NCAA Northeast Region. "We are looking forward to having a strong championship competition and improving our 2022 scoring and positions," stated Head Coach Vicki Mitchell.

The women head into the Championships with several individuals in position to score well. During the regular season the Bulls set 10 new All-Time Top 10 Program marks and had several women ranked in the top 10 in the MAC. Leading the Bulls is Senior Christina Wende, ranked #2 in the Long Jump, #1 in the Triple Jump, and #6 in the 60HH. In all three events, she set top-10 program best marks this year. Teammate Zaria Fuller will also compete in the 60HH and in the high jump. At the 2022 Championships, Fuller placed 5^th in the High Jump. Joining Fuller in the high jump will be senior Antoinette Miller, ranked #5 in the event with her personal best of 1.70m/5'7.00" to move to #9 UB All-time, and sophomore Zahra Amos, who is ranked #6 at 1.70m/5'7.00". Miller, who will also be competing in the 60m, set a personal best and placed 6^th at the 2022 Indoor MAC Championships in the 60m.

The Bulls have a strong 4-women squad competing in the Women's Triple Jump with Wende leading the way. Kaylah Britt is ranked 3^rd in the event, and Emily Tait and Naiomi Meran will also be contesting for points. Freshman Vassianna Klock and Allison Newton will both be making their MAC Championships debut competing in the 800m. Klock is ranked #12 and Newton #19 in the event. Graduate Transfer Teasha McKoy made her mark this year, throwing both the Shot Put and Weight Throw to UB Top-10 Marks. She is ranked 3^rd in the MAC in the Shot Put with her mark of 14.88m/48'10.00" and ranked 3^rd in the Weight Throw – 18.77m/61'7". Junior Imahni Sinclair heads into the Championships ranked 9^th and is in position to move up to scoring. In the combined events, junior Scilla Benussi set a personal best of 3720 points - #4 UB All-time and is ranked 3^rd in the MAC with teammate Kelsey Shapiro also competing. One year ago, Benussi placed 7^th in the event.

The men head into the Championships having set 12 new UB All-Time Top-10 program marks and two new school records. On the track, sophomore Jermaine Ewers set a personal best in the 60m of 6.87m ranking #4 in the MAC, and 9^th UB All-time. Teammates Justin Kleppel and Jean Desir also head into the Championships with top-10 marks in the MAC. The Bulls have a strong trio in the 60HH, senior Chinemerem Ononiwu comes into the MAC Championships ranked 5^th in a personal best time of 8.02, which is also the 3^rd best time in UB program history. Freshman teammate Michael Parks set a personal best of 8.14, ranking 7^th in the MAC and the 8^th best mark in UB history. Kyle Waymen is seeded 8^th in the event. Sophomore Tal Hamel will lead the Bulls in the 200m and 400m, ranked 7^th in both events. At the 2022 Outdoor MAC Championships, Hamel was named Freshman of the Year with his 3^rd place finish in the 400m and roles in the 4 x 400m and 4 x 100m relays for the Bulls. Seniors Jaron Meyer and Elijah Kerner join Hamel in the 200m ranked 9^th and 11^th. In the 800m, Johann Matzal will lead the Bulls in contending for a top-6 scoring position. His season best of 1:53.25 is ranked #8 in the MAC with freshman teammate Gabe Watson ranked #10.

The Bulls set two new school records and several All-Time Top-10 program marks in the distance events during the regular season. Junior Evan Hilbert crushed the school record in the Mile in 4:05.78 and is ranked 4^th in the event. Ryan Buzby set a new school record in the 5000m of 14:18.60 ranking #5 in the MAC. He is also ranked 4^th in the 3000m heading into the Championships. Teammates Cory Demo (UB #7 8:21.39) and Alex Hislop (UB #8 8:22.95) join Buzby in the 3000m. The men's DMR earned the Bronze medal at the 2022 Indoor Championships and looks to equal or better that placement with a strong quartet of Demo, Fernando Sanchez, Noah Brightman, and Hilbert. In the throws, an area that the Bulls have traditionally had extremely strong performances, the Bulls have 3 ranked in the top 8 in the MAC. Jonathan Surdej leads the group ranked 2^nd in the MAC, with Mark Przybocki (4^th) and Quinn Smith (8^th) in position to score well too. The Bulls have two competitors in the Heptathlon. Kevin Gabalski, who set a personal best mark of 4793 and earning him the 9^th best mark on the UB All-Time Top-10 list earlier this season, is seeded 3^rd in the MAC with teammate Mike Wolford ranked 5^th.

Live Results
Friday Livestream
Saturday Livestream