School Records Drop at Bison Outdoor Classic

Saturday, April 15

Lewisburg, PA

TBA

Bucknell Bison Invite

School Records Drop at Bison Outdoor Classic

4/16/2023 11:27:00 AM | Track and Field

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The University at Buffalo track and field team completed the first two days of the Bison Outdoor Classic in Lewisburg, PA on Friday and Saturday.

The women's heptathlon competition was dominated by Scilla Benussi. Benussi set the tone starting with the 100-meter hurdles in a personal best time of 14.78, and teammate Kelsey Shapiro finished in 16.54. In the High Jump, Shapiro won the event, tying her personal best of 5'4.25", and Benussi placed 2^nd in 5'3". Benussi had a strong shot put, throwing 38'5", winning the event, and Shapiro recorded a personal best of 34'2.25". The final event of day one of the heptathlon saw personal bests for both women, with Benussi running 26.58 and Shapiro 27.05.

Day 2 of the women's heptathlon brought more personal bests. Benussi leaped to 18'0.50" in the long jump and Shapiro 17'8". Benussi then won the Javelin in 130'2" and won the 800-meters in a big personal best time of 2:23.38. Her dominating 2-day performance point total of 5135 set a new facility record, a new personal best, and moves her to 2^nd All-Time in UB school history. Shapiro finished with a personal best 2:27.05 in the 800-meters, totaling 4483 for a new personal best moving her to 10^th All-Time for UB. Benussi's total of 5135 ranks 21^stin the NCAA East Region.

In the men's decathlon, Kevin Gabalski started off the 10-event competition with a personal best in the 100-meters in 11.26. Mike Wolford was close behind in 11.71. In the long jump, Gabalski leaped out to 22'3.5", winning the event. Wolford finished 3^rd in 21'6". Wolford won the shot put in 44'2.5", while Gabalski threw 34'1".

Day 2 of the Decathlon started with the 110HH, with Gabalski taking 2^nd in the event in 15.30. Wolford came back to win the discus throw in 146'9" and Gabalski recorded a personal best distance of 118'8". In the final event of the day, the 1500-meters, Gabalski finished in 4:52.43, and Wolford in 5:16.52. Gabalski's total of 6570 points was a personal best by over 400 points, and moves him to 7^th All-Time for UB, winning the Blue Division of the event. Wolford placed 2^nd overall with 6432 points.

On the track, freshman Bronagh Cassidy set a new personal best in the 1500-meters of 4:53.24, placing 37 of 96 competitors. In the women's 3000-meter steeplechase, freshman Vassi Klock ran her debut placing 10^th of 51 competitors in a time of 10:49.48. Klock's finish is the fastest time ever run by a UB Freshman, ranking 4^th in UB school history and 4^th in the MAC, and is a USATF Junior National Championships qualifying mark. In the men's unseeded section of the 10,000-meter run, freshman Matt Gensel placed 8^th 46 competitors in a time of 31:25.91, which is a UB freshman record as well as a USATF Junior National Championships qualifying time.

In the seeded men's 1500-meter run, junior Evan Hilbert recorded a dominating win, setting a new school record in 3:42.64. His record breaks Brian Crimmins' 3:42.66, a record that has stood since 2016. Hilbert's time ranks 31^st in the NCAA East Region and 2^nd in the MAC. Ryan Buzby also ran a new personal best of 3:49.12, moving him to 4^th All-Time for UB, and freshman Noah Brightman ran a personal best of 3:52.53.

In the field events, Christina Wende won the Women's long jump competition, leading the way by a full foot over her nearest competitor. Her 6-jump series was a progression leading to a new school record mark of 20'5.25", breaking Fatimah Hill's 2009 mark of 20'3". Her mark ranks 2^nd in the MAC and 23^rdin the NCAA East Region. Teasha McKoy set a personal best in the women's discus throw, placing 2^nd in 165'1, ranking 3^rdAll-Time in UB school history. In the men's long jump, Dan Muccini set a personal best of 22'5".

For complete results, click here.

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The final day of competition begins at 10 a.m. on the track with the women's 3000-meters. Field events begin at 11 a.m. with the Women's Shot Put and Men's High Jump.