Friday, February 24
Bowling Green, OH
TBA
at
Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships
Photo by: Scott W. Grau
Wende Crowned MAC Champion in Women’s Long Jump as Bulls Have Success on Day One
2/24/2023 9:10:00 PM | Track and Field
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The University at Buffalo men's and women's teams completed a successful day one of the MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The UB women sit in second place after the opening day while the men are in fourth place.
Starting the day for the men's squad were Kevin Gabalski and Mike Wolford in the Heptathlon. Gabalski set a personal best in the Long Jump of 6.86m placing 2nd in the event, a PR in the shot put of 11.31m, and was just shy of his PR in the high jump clearing 1.84m. Gabalski sits in third place after the first day, while Wolford who won the shot put event with a throw of 14.35m, sits in fourth place. In the long jump, senior junior Justin Kleppel set a new personal best of 6.90m, narrowly missing scoring position in 6th place. Tomorrow's field action will begin with the 60 HH, followed by the pole vault, and will conclude with the 1000m.
On the track, the Men's 60HH prelim proved to be exciting with Chinemerem Ononiwu (8.03), Michael Parks (8.13), and Kyle Wayman (8.49) all advancing to the finals. In the 60m, sophomore Jermaine Ewers set a personal best mark of 6.83, moving him to sixth all-time in program history and earning a spot in the finals. Teammate Jean Desir took nearly .10 off his previous best running 6.95, ranking sixth going into the finals. Sophomore Tal Hamel advanced to finals in both the 400m and 200m, and Johann Matzal advanced to the finals in the 800m race with a seventh place finish.
Day one concluded with the men's 5000m and distance medley relay. In the 5000m, Senior Ryan Buzby battled back and forth with Zuercher of Eastern Michigan, ultimately outkicking him to take fifth place. The foursome of Cory Demo, Fernando Sanchez, Noah Brightman, and Evan Hilbert took the silver medal in the men's DMR in an exciting race. Hilbert anchored the team and battled with Kent State and EMU around the final curve in a photo finish with KSU running 10:02.65, UB 10:02.91, and EMU 10:03.54. The Bulls currently sit in fourth place with 10 points behind Akron (59), Eastern (46), and Kent State 37).
The women's team had several outstanding individual performances scoring valuable points for the team, highlighted by Christina Wende who won her first MAC gold medal in the women's long jump. Her mark of 6.04m was a 1cm personal best and 3cm better than second place finisher Hayley Manners of Central Michigan. Scilla Benussi continued the strong start for the Bulls in the pentathlon, setting a new personal best of 3789 points and taking the bronze medal. She set a personal best in the high jump (1.66m) and shot put (12.32) in route to earning the bronze medal. Her total of 3789 also moves her to second all-time in program history. Graduate Transfer Teasha McKoy earned the silver medal in the weight throw with her distance of 18.75m, and teammate Imahni Sinclair earned her first podium finish placing eighth in the event.
On the track, the preliminary rounds were contested starting with the 60HH. Wende continued her success setting a new personal best in a time of 8.63 advancing to tomorrow's finals. Zaria Fuller had a season's best of 8.86, placing 12th in the extremely competitive field. Antoinette Miller narrowly missed advancing to the 60m finals in a time of 7.78, good for 16th. The women's 800m featured two freshmen as Vassi Klock placed 11th (2:15.74) and Allison Newton finished 18th (2:18.29), both placing higher than their seeds entering the meet. The Bulls currently sit in second place after day one with 25 points, with only 11 points separating second to eighth place.
"Today was a good day. Nearly every individual equaled or better their ranking coming into the meet. The MAC is extremely competitive in track & field and each point is a battle," stated Head Coach Vicki Mitchell. "The team fought hard today, but it's not done. We have a lot of business to take care of tomorrow. Each point will make an impact on our team position and each team member has an important role in continuing to rise up."
For complete Day One results, click here.
UP NEXT
Day Two of the MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Starting the day for the men's squad were Kevin Gabalski and Mike Wolford in the Heptathlon. Gabalski set a personal best in the Long Jump of 6.86m placing 2nd in the event, a PR in the shot put of 11.31m, and was just shy of his PR in the high jump clearing 1.84m. Gabalski sits in third place after the first day, while Wolford who won the shot put event with a throw of 14.35m, sits in fourth place. In the long jump, senior junior Justin Kleppel set a new personal best of 6.90m, narrowly missing scoring position in 6th place. Tomorrow's field action will begin with the 60 HH, followed by the pole vault, and will conclude with the 1000m.
On the track, the Men's 60HH prelim proved to be exciting with Chinemerem Ononiwu (8.03), Michael Parks (8.13), and Kyle Wayman (8.49) all advancing to the finals. In the 60m, sophomore Jermaine Ewers set a personal best mark of 6.83, moving him to sixth all-time in program history and earning a spot in the finals. Teammate Jean Desir took nearly .10 off his previous best running 6.95, ranking sixth going into the finals. Sophomore Tal Hamel advanced to finals in both the 400m and 200m, and Johann Matzal advanced to the finals in the 800m race with a seventh place finish.
Day one concluded with the men's 5000m and distance medley relay. In the 5000m, Senior Ryan Buzby battled back and forth with Zuercher of Eastern Michigan, ultimately outkicking him to take fifth place. The foursome of Cory Demo, Fernando Sanchez, Noah Brightman, and Evan Hilbert took the silver medal in the men's DMR in an exciting race. Hilbert anchored the team and battled with Kent State and EMU around the final curve in a photo finish with KSU running 10:02.65, UB 10:02.91, and EMU 10:03.54. The Bulls currently sit in fourth place with 10 points behind Akron (59), Eastern (46), and Kent State 37).
The women's team had several outstanding individual performances scoring valuable points for the team, highlighted by Christina Wende who won her first MAC gold medal in the women's long jump. Her mark of 6.04m was a 1cm personal best and 3cm better than second place finisher Hayley Manners of Central Michigan. Scilla Benussi continued the strong start for the Bulls in the pentathlon, setting a new personal best of 3789 points and taking the bronze medal. She set a personal best in the high jump (1.66m) and shot put (12.32) in route to earning the bronze medal. Her total of 3789 also moves her to second all-time in program history. Graduate Transfer Teasha McKoy earned the silver medal in the weight throw with her distance of 18.75m, and teammate Imahni Sinclair earned her first podium finish placing eighth in the event.
On the track, the preliminary rounds were contested starting with the 60HH. Wende continued her success setting a new personal best in a time of 8.63 advancing to tomorrow's finals. Zaria Fuller had a season's best of 8.86, placing 12th in the extremely competitive field. Antoinette Miller narrowly missed advancing to the 60m finals in a time of 7.78, good for 16th. The women's 800m featured two freshmen as Vassi Klock placed 11th (2:15.74) and Allison Newton finished 18th (2:18.29), both placing higher than their seeds entering the meet. The Bulls currently sit in second place after day one with 25 points, with only 11 points separating second to eighth place.
"Today was a good day. Nearly every individual equaled or better their ranking coming into the meet. The MAC is extremely competitive in track & field and each point is a battle," stated Head Coach Vicki Mitchell. "The team fought hard today, but it's not done. We have a lot of business to take care of tomorrow. Each point will make an impact on our team position and each team member has an important role in continuing to rise up."
For complete Day One results, click here.
UP NEXT
Day Two of the MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
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