U of R Alumni Invite
Buffalo Men Win University of Rochester Alumni Invitational
4/8/2024 1:07:00 PM | Track and Field
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Members of the University at Buffalo Track & Field team competed in the University of Rochester Alumni Invitational on Sunday, with many underclassmen gaining valuable collegiate experience at the outdoor meet.
Buffalo won the men's side of the competition, placing first with a score of 125 points.
Jacob Brink started the day strong for the Bulls, winning the men's 1500 meter with a season-best time of 3:56.36. Gabriel Cornfield also earned a podium finish for the Bulls, placing third (3:57.13). Gabe Watson (8th, 3:58.25) and William Marchant (9th, 3:59.02) placed inside the top ten too, making their outdoor season debuts with sub-four-minute times.
The Bulls swept the competition in the men's throwing events. Jonathan Surdej won the men's shot put with a throw of 17.58 meters. Sudej's mark was a new facility record and ranks first in the Mid-American Conference this outdoor season. Caleb Nickens later won the men's hammer throw with a mark of 60.12 meters. Quinn Smith also won the men's discus throw with a mark of 47.81 meter, as William Trembley took second place for the Bulls too (47.75). All of the Bulls throwers posted season best performances.
Kevin Gabalski won the men's 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.14, as Humphrey Banful earned the second top-five finish for Buffalo, placing fourth (15.86). Both Gabalski and Banful's times were season-best performances. In the men's 400 meter hurdles, Jason Colindres took second (55.40).
Sam Mellinger placed third in the men's 100 meter dash with a time of 11.13. Mellinger's outdoor season debut was the fourth-fastest time for a Buffalo runner this season.
Julian Smith (4th, 49.78) and Brandon Robinson (8th, 50.59) both finished inside the top ten in the men's 400 meter. Smith later placed sixth in the men's 200 meter (22.61). Both of Smith's times were season-best performances.
Fernando Sanchez took second in the men's 800 meter with a time of 1:57.33, as Ty Fluharty finished 11th for the Bulls (1:59.14). Both runners made their outdoor season debut in the 800 meter.
Tyler Norton and Calvin Finger finished inside the top five of the men's high jump with a mark of 1.91 meters. Both performances rank first among Buffalo jumpers this outdoor season.
On the women's side, the Bulls placed fifth of 12 participating schools, with many underclassmen having strong performances to build off of.
Allison Newton took second in the women's 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 11:24.4. Brianna Carter also placed inside the top ten for the Bulls (7th, 11:30.58). Newton's time was a new personal best that ranks ninth in the MAC this season.
Stephney Pryce took seventh in the women's 200 with a time of 26.13. Amber McDonald (11th, 26.70), Uma Bhattacharjee (12th, 26.75) and Alexia Jones (16th, 27.02) all finished inside the top 20 for the Bulls. McDonald and Jones' times were outdoor season bests.
Pryce (4th, 59.22) and Bhattacharjee (6th, 59.68) later finished inside the top ten for Buffalo in the women's 400 meter. Pryce's time was a season-best. McDonald (3rd, 12.46) and Jones (5th, 12.76) then posted season-best times and placed inside the top five for the Bulls in the 100 meter.
Reese Wilber (6th, 4:47.24) and Chloe Freeland (7th, 4:48.69) finished inside the top ten for the Bulls in the women's 1500 meter. Both times were personal bests for the women. Wilber also took third in the women's 800 meter (2:20.16).
Melissa Carden finished seventh in her outdoor season debut in the women's 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:11.99. Brianna Urban made her outdoor debut as well, finishing seventh in the women's 5000 meter with a time of 19:10.19.
The Buffalo women had strong performances in the throwing events too. Imahni Sinclair won the women's hammer throw with a throw of 54.56 meters, as Bernice Balk took fifth in the women's shot put (12.26m).
All results from Sunday's competition can be accessed here.
The Bulls will next compete at the University of Bucknell Bison Classic, beginning this Friday and ending the following Sunday.
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").
Players Mentioned
