Bulls Earn Medals & Set Records on Day One of MAC Outdoor Championships

Thursday, May 9

DeKalb, IL

11am

MAC Outdoor Championships

Photo by: Zahra Amos

Bulls Earn Medals & Set Records on Day One of MAC Outdoor Championships

5/9/2024 9:35:00 PM | Track and Field

DeKalb, Ill. – The University at Buffalo Track & Field team competed in day one of the MAC Outdoor Championships on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The Bulls opened the conference championships on a strong note, earning a gold medal, four podium finishes and a new school record.

Heading into day two of the conference championships, the women are second on the leaderboard, earning 21 points. On the men's side, the Bulls sit in fourth place with 18 points.

Jenna Reid earned a gold medal for Buffalo in the women's javelin, setting a new season best mark of 44.92 meters. The graduate student's throw ranks third in UB outdoor history. Reid is the third woman in program history to win the javelin throw at MAC outdoor championships, joining Scilla Benussi (2023) and Vanessa Roelofson (2007 & 2008).

Benussi returned to the javelin throw at outdoor championships, the event she took gold in last year, this time placing third and earning the fifth MAC medal of her career. The senior had a season best throw of 39.83 meters.

Benussi also competed in the first day of the women's heptathlon. The senior opened the heptathlon placing second in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.35. Benussi then finished fourth in the high jump with a jump of 1.63 meters, followed by a taking third in the shot put with a throw of 12.56 meters. The senior closed out day one in the 200 meter dash with a sixth place finish and a time of 26.56.

The women's heptathlon concludes on Friday afternoon with the long jump, javelin throw and 800 meter run.

Tal Hamel set a new school record in the men's 200 meter dash with a time of 20.91. Hamel's time broke the previous school record (20.95), set by Joshua Gali (2017). The junior placed second in the preliminary round of the event. The finals of the 200 meter will take place on Saturday, where Hamel looks to earn the first MAC gold medal of his career.

Ryan Buzby set a new personal record and earned a silver medal in the men's 10,000 meter, finishing in 29:50.40. Buzby's new personal record ranks second all-time in UB outdoor history, trailing only Liam Hilbert (2021, 29:33.88). Matt Gensel also earned a podium finish in the event, taking third with a time of 30:19.85.

Imahni Sinclair took fourth in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 55.85 meters. The senior was less than two meters shy of her personal best mark (57.33m). Freshman Loretta White also competed for Buffalo, placing 15th with a throw of 41.60 meters.

Caleb Nickens opened the conference championships for the Bulls with a fifth place finish in the men's hammer throw at MAC Outdoor Championships with a throw of 60.71 meters. Nickens is now a seven-time podium finisher at MAC Championships.

Brian Murphy finished fifth in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.71 meters. The junior was less than a meter short of his season best (4.80m)

Kevin Gabalski competed in day one of the men's decathlon, leading the way for the Bulls in the event. Gabalski began the day with a second place finish in the men's decathlon 100 meter with a time of 11.09. The junior then took third in the decathlon long jump, finishing witth a mark of 6.65 meters. Gabalski won the men's decathlon shot put at the MAC Outdoor Championships, having a finishing distance of 11.48 meters. The junior then closed out day one finishing third in the high jump with a mark of 1.84 meters and third again in the 400 meter dash (51.64).

Brady Hughes and Noah Ruffer also competed in the men's decathlon for the Bulls. Hughes began the day with a fourth-place finish in the 100 meter dash (11.44) and in the long jump (6.07m). Ruffer took fifth in both the 100 meter dash (11.77) and in the long jump (5.95m). Hughes earned a podium finish in the shot put, finishing third with a mark of 11.00 meters, as Ruffer placed seventh (10.03m). Hughes closed out day one by taking fifth in the high jump (1.81m) and sixth in the 400 meter dash (55.17). Ruffer finished his day with a seventh place finish in the high jump (1.78m) and fifth in the 400 meter (55.03).

The men will close out the decathlon on Friday afternoon with the 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500 meter.

Freshman Gemma Galligani competed in her first outdoor conference championship, completing the preliminary round of the 400 meter hurdles in 1:05.52 to finish 10th. Galligani was nearly a second shy of her outdoor collegiate record (1:04.21).

Freshman Jason Colindres also got his first taste of the conference championship experience, competing in the preliminary round of the men's 400 meter hurdles. Colindres placed ninth and finished the event in 55.56. The freshman's time was nearly a second shy of his outdoor collegiate record (54.25).

Bronagh Cassidy competed in the preliminary round of the women's 1,500 meter and finished 18^th with a personal best time of 4:40.98.

The 2024 MAC Outdoor Championships will continue on Friday at 12pm. All information regarding the conference championships including event schedules, timing and tickets can be accessed here.

For live 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").