Bulls Continue Setting Personal Records at Akron Invitational

Friday, February 2

Akron, OH

4pm

Akron Invitational

Photo by: Leo Lin

Bulls Continue Setting Personal Records at Akron Invitational

2/3/2024 12:34:00 PM | Track and Field

AKRON, OHIO – The University at Buffalo track and field team continued their streak of setting new personal best marks at the Akron Invitational on Friday night with the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships on the horizon. Vassi Klock highlighted the night for the Bulls, setting a new personal best performance in the women's 800 meter with a time of 2:12.62, ranking ninth in program indoor history.

"In our third meet of the season, we continue to have improvements in both the track and field events," said Head Coach Vicki Mitchell. "The Akron Invite provided great competition in a fantastic facility."

SPRINTS
The Bulls opened the meet on Friday night with Justin Kleppel (7.02) running a season best mark and Uma Bhattacharjee (7.91) running a personal best mark, with both qualifying for the finals. Kleppel took sixth place in the finals (7.06), as Battacharjee placed eight (7.96) in the finals.

Buffalo had several athletes run season best times in the 400 meter on both the men's and the women's side. Julian Smith (50.11), Jason Colindres (50.94), Andrew Core (51.94) and Connor Lehr (53.73) all set new season records, as Juliette Salazar (58.77) and Stephney Pryce (59.44) set personal best times.

DISTANCE
The Bulls continued to have personal best times in the distance events, with seven of the Buffalo women who ran the mile setting new personal best marks. Bronagh Cassidy lead the way running 5:10.92, placing sixth overall and taking eight seconds off her previous best. Reese Wilber (5:13.31), Allison Newton (5:15.82) and Chloe Freeland (5:18.25) all eclipsed their previous best by over two seconds, as Brianna Carter (5:22.66), Anna Recktenwalt (5:28.41), and Megan Smith (5:28.52) also ran to personal bests.

In her 5000 meter debut, freshman Lacey Danilovitz placed fourth overall with a time of 18:07.93, while Alexandra Cowley ran a personal best of her own, finishing in 19:05.69.

On the men's side, Gabriel Cornfield ran a personal best time in the mile (4:25.52), while Gabe Watson (1:55.38) placed fourth in the 800 meter and Danzil Monk Jr. took fifth (1:56.04). Sophomore Matt Gensel broke the 15 minute barrier for the first time placing fourth in the men's 5000 meter with a time of 14:57.48, while freshman Chris Turner ran a personal best of 15:18.10.

JUMPS & THROWS
Emily Tait took first place in the women's triple jump with a season's best mark of 11.69m, while freshman teammate Amari Hall placed second with a mark of 10.93m.

Caleb Nickens continued his consistent season in the weight throw placing second with a distance of 19.23m. On the women's side Imahni Sinclair also had a strong performance placing fifth with a throw of 16.69m. Jonathan Surdej claimed another win in the men's shot put (16.73m) to close out the competition.

The large group of freshmen are starting to adjust to collegiate competition," said Mitchell. "There's no doubt we have a lot to accomplish in the next two and a half weeks leading to the Indoor MAC Championships. We need to continue to improve both our performance marks as well as our competitive tactics. The MAC features some of the best track and field athletes in the NCAA pushing us to continually raise the bar."

UP NEXT
Next weekend the Bulls will have members of the program compete in Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational. The meet begins on Friday, February 9^th, then continuing on Saturday, February 10^th.

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").