Bulls Rewrite School Record Books at BU’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational

Friday, February 9

Boston, MA

9am

University at Buffalo

David Hemery Valentine Invite

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Rewrite School Record Books at BU’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational

2/11/2024 11:02:00 AM | Track and Field

BOSTON, MASS – In one of the premiere indoor track competitions in the country this weekend, the University at Buffalo track & field team brought their best. A strong team performance was highlighted by Ryan Buzby setting a new school record in the 3000 meter and Evan Hilbert reclaiming his school record in the mile.

Friday night was the beginning of the women's events, where Buffalo got out to a hot start. Four Bulls set new personal bests, with two being top-ten times in school history.

For the second weekend in a row, Vassi Klock ran a personal best time, this time in the mile. Klock's 4:59.18 time is four seconds faster than her previous personal best, now eighth all-time in school indoor history. Aleksandra Szulska followed Klock's performance by making her indoor debut in the 5000 meter. Szulska mapped the track in 17:11.32, now ranking fifth all-time in UB indoor history.

Johanna Kleiner was the first runner of the night for the Bulls, setting the tone for the team performance to come. Kleiner ran her fastest indoor 800m ever, clocking in at 2:14.25, taking more than three seconds off her previous best. Lacey Danilovitz (10:15.62) and Bronagh Cassidy (10:29.39) followed by setting personal bests of their own in the 3000 meter.

On Saturday, the men followed with a historical performance of their own. Hilbert reclaimed his spot atop the school record books in the mile, with a time of 4:04.93, beating Buzby's time by less than half a second set just a few weeks ago. Johann Matzal also entered the school record books in the mile, with this time of 4:11.74 ranking ninth all-time in UB indoor history.

The Buffalo men then rewrote the top-ten program times for the 3000 meter, highlighted by Buzby who doubled back to break his own record, with a time of 8:07.97. Buzby's time now ranks fourth among the Mid-American Conference. In the morning session, Alex Hislop completed the 3000 meter in 8:16.43, now ranking fourth in UB indoor history. Luke Stoeffler (8:19.52, 6th all-time) and William Marchant (8:21.39, 9th all-time), also ran times ranking inside the top-ten in program history. Jacob Brink rounded out the team performance with a personal best time of his own (8:25.52).

Tal Hamel joined the school record books in the 400 meter, winning his heat with a personal best time of 47.91. Hamel's time now ranks fourth all-time in school history, and second in the MAC.

On Saturday the women came back to make more history, with a distance medley relay team of Kleiner, Klock and Juliette Salazar running a time of 12:02.62, the fastest time the Bulls have seen in the event since 2016.

"This weekend was a focus competition for the team to improve our competitive levels, improve our rankings in the MAC, and prepare for the competition we will see at the MAC Championships," said Head Coach Vicki Mitchell. "The women set four new all-time top ten marks for the program and one new school record, while the men set eight new all-time top ten marks and two new school records. The team continues to improve each and with just under two weeks to the MAC Championships, the grind will continue with a focus on staying healthy and being ready to get after it at Eastern Michigan University."

All men's results can be accessed here. All women's results can be accessed here.

UP NEXT
The Bulls will compete next weekend at Cornell University on Saturday, February 17th, the team's last meet before the MAC Indoor Championships on February 23rd and 24th.

For more coverage of Buffalo men's and women's track & field, follow the program on X (@UB_XCTF), Instagram (@BullsTFXC) and Facebook ("Buffalo Track & Cross Country").