Bulls Begin Outdoor Season On A Strong Note at West Virginia

Friday, March 22

Morgantown, WV

10am

Stan Romanoski Open

Bulls Begin Outdoor Season On A Strong Note at West Virginia

3/24/2024 12:03:00 PM | Track and Field

MORGANTOWN, WV – The University at Buffalo Track & Field team opened the outdoor season this weekend at West Virginia's Stan Romanoski Open. The Bulls earned several event wins and top ten finishes, as the team navigated challenging weather conditions.

Head Coach Vicki Mitchell credited the Bulls for their season opening performance.

"The conditions made attaining performance marks challenging, but many of the Bulls competed strong for event wins and top three performances in the field," said Mitchell. "The reality of outdoor season is adjusting to the conditions. This is a transition from the indoor where the conditions are always ideal."

Friday's hammer throw was the opening competition of the outdoor season for Buffalo, where Caleb Nickens placed second with a mark of 57.41 meters. Sophomore Kenneth Gulloso placed 18^th in a field of 31 athletes, with a throw of 36.83 meters.

Noah Brightman had a strong start to his outdoor season on Saturday, taking second place in the men's 800 meter with a time of 1:55.04. The sophomore time's ranks first in the the Mid-American Conference to open the outdoor season. Evan Hilbert (4th, 1:57.98) and Danzil Monk (8th, 1:58.92) also placed inside the top ten for Buffalo.

Ryan Buzby and Alex Hislop continued their indoor success taking the top two spots in the men's 1500 meter. Buzby's time of 3:57.79 earned first place and ranks third in the conference. Hislop's second place time was 3:59.77.

The Bulls weren't contested in the 1500 meter men's steeplechase, taking all three podium spots. Freshman Gabriel Cornfield claimed first place (4:29.78), as Luke Stoeffler finished second (4:30.05) and William Marchant rounded out the top three for Buffalo (4:30.29).

Fernando Sanchez continued a strong day on the track for Buffalo, placing second in a field of 47 runners in the 400 meter (50.22). Johann Matzal (7th, 51.95) and Julian Smith (9th, 52.24) also placed inside the top ten for the Bulls.

Tal Hamel ran a personal best in the 100m of 10.79, placing second overall and being the first collegiate finisher. Hamel's time ranks fifth in the MAC.

The relay team of Jermaine Ewers,Jean Desir, Neil Stoudemire and Hamel placed third of eight teams in the 4x100 meter men's relay with a time of 44.12

The Bulls also began the season on a positive note in the men's 110 meter hurdles. Michael Parks won the event with a time of 14.62, as freshman teammate Jason Colindres took fourth place (57.15).

Saturday's throwing events proved to favor the Bulls too, as MAC Indoor Champion Jonathan Surdej won the men's shot put with a mark of 16.17 meters. Will Trembly (11th, 13.72m), Bradley Johnson (12th, 13.70m) and Quintus Simmons (13th, 13.48m) also competed for Buffalo, placing four Bulls inside the top 15 across a field of 43 participants.

Trembley went on two win the men's discuss throw for Buffalo with a mark of 45.33 meters.

On the women's side, Imahni Sinclair opened the outdoor season on Friday, winning the women's hammer throw with a personal best mark of 57.30 meters. Sinclair's throw ranks second in the conference to open the season. Loretta White also competed for the Bulls, finishing eighth with a mark of 43.31 meters.

Graduate transfer Jenna Reid debuted for the Bulls and won the women's javelin throw with a mark of 37.31 meters. Freshman Bernice Balk closed out the throwing events for the Buffalo women with a fourth-place finish in the shot put and a mark of 12.07 meters.

The Buffalo women had strong performances on the track across the board.

In the women's 1500 meter steeplechase, Vassi Klock (2nd, 5:10.47), Allison Newton (3rd, 5:18.75), Brianna Carter (4th, 5:24.94) and Kaitlyn Edinger (7th, 5:41.33) all placed inside the top ten for the Bulls. The event was won by 2000 meter Olympian from Australia, Amy Cashin, meaning the Bulls had the first three collegiate finishers.

The Bulls were also strong in the 1500 meter. Bronagh Cassidy was the top finisher for the Buffalo, placing fourth with a time of 4:51.25. Reese Wilber (7th, 4:54.03), Chloe Freeland (8th, 4:54.81) and Juliette Salazar (9th, 4:59.92) also placed inside the top ten for the Bulls. Five Buffalo runners in total ran a personal best in the event.

Johanna Kleiner placed fourth in the women's 800 meter, mapping the track in 2:19.06. The junior's time ranks fourth in the MAC to open the season. Julia Singh placed eighth (2:20.73), putting two Bulls inside the top ten.

Paris Welker ran anew personal best time in the women's 5000 meter, finishing in 19:09.23 for seventh place. 35 athletes participated in the event.

Amber McDonald (5th, 12.61), Stephney Pryce (7th, 12.74) and Uma Bhattacharjee (10th, 12.79) all placed inside the top ten for Buffalo in the women's 100 meter.

All results from the weekend can be accessed here.

The Bulls continue the outdoor season next weekend with athletes participating in several meets around the country. The Bulls will have athletes compete in the Texas Relay in Austin, Texas, with the competition beginning on Wednesday and running through Saturday. Buffalo athletes will also be present at the Raleigh Relays on the campus of North Carolina State, starting Thursday and concluding Saturday. The team will also have athletes present at the Texas State Bobcat Invite and the Geneseo Early Season Invite on Friday and Saturday.

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").