Bulls Continue Momentum at SPIRE Indoor Games

Saturday, February 15

Geneva OH

9:30 am

SPIRE Indoor Games

Photo by: Pat Ames

Bulls Continue Momentum at SPIRE Indoor Games

2/16/2025 11:59:00 AM | Track and Field

GENEVA, OHIO – The University at Buffalo track and field program competed at the SPIRE Indoor Games on Saturday, another opportunity for the team to gain valuable competition experience ahead of MAC Indoor Championships on February 28th and March 1st. The Bulls did just that, winning four events and having three new personal records reach the all-time UB indoor ranks.

WOMEN
Akuot Kuany was the top collegiate finisher in her debut in the triple jump with a mark of 12.17 meters. Kuany's performance rose the indoor ranks to fifth all-time for the event. The freshman ranks sixth in the conference in the event this season.

Stella Kapp and Zahra Amos posted a mark of 1.75 meters in the women's high jump. The two held first place with the mark, agreeing to share the event win. Kapp's performance was a new personal best, ranking fourth all-time in UB indoor history. Kapp is now tied with Kuany (2025) and Caitlin Godin (2006) all-time. Amos' mark tied a season-best. The three are tied to rank fourth in the conference this season.

Juliette Salazar finished second of 72 athletes in the women's 800-meter with a season-best time of 2:15.92. The sophomore fell just shy of the all-time UB top ten (2:12.84) and her record 2:15.03. Isa van Puffelen (6th, 2:19.49) and Sophie Brettholtz (13th, 2:23.00) also earned top 15 finishes and new personal records.

van Puffelen later finished seventh of 50 athletes in the long jump with a personal record mark of 5.39 meters.

Brettholtz also set a new personal record in the women's mile with a time of 5:13.74 to finish fifth of 56 athletes. Brianna Carter also posted a season-best time of 5:27.10.

Loretta White set a new personal record in the women's weight throw with a mark of 16.55 meters to finish fifth of 39 athletes. Bernice Balk also had a new personal record mark of 13.82 meters to place 15th. In the women's shot put, Maria Akalonu (7th, 12.05m) and Balk (9th, 11.75m) both placed inside the top ten in a field of 44.

The Buffalo women took four of the nine spots in the 60-meter dash finals. Hailey Martinez (5th, 7.91) Sophia Sampson (7th, 7.93), Shannon Schmieder (8th, 8.00) and Amber McDonald (9th, 8.01) all competed in the event finals.

Sampson's preliminary round time of 7.91 was a new personal record in the event. The freshman also won the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.28, falling just shy of the UB all-time leaderboard for the event (25.11) and her personal record time of 25.20. Schmieder competed in the 200-meter too, taking fourth with a personal best time of 25.49.

Martinez finished seventh of 52 athletes in the women's 400-meter with a time of 59.71.

Eliza Medearis set a new personal record time of 10:26.40 in the women's 3,000-meter to finish 8th of 42 athletes. Paris Welker (10:56.78) and Brianna Urban (10:57.03) also posted personal best times with top 20 finishes.

MEN
Freshman Rylee VanAlstine earned a new personal record in the 400-meter with his second-place finish. VanAlstine's time of 48.89 is tied to rank tenth all-time in UB indoor history with Gyasi Morris (2020). Fernando Sanchez also posted a top-five finish in the event, taking fourth with a time of 49.59.

Freshman Micah Blair won the men's long jump with a new personal record mark of 7.05 meters. Blair's mark fell just shy of the UB indoor all-time ranks, with the tenth-ranked mark being 7.11 meters. The freshman has now won seven events in the indoor season.

Kevin Gabalski finished third in the men's 60-meter hurdles finals with a time of 8.37. The senior qualified for the finals with a preliminary round time of 8.34 to finish second of 22 athletes.

Aiden Walker placed fifth of 44 athletes in the men's shot put with a new personal record mark of 15.75 meters. Walker is flirting with the all-time lists, breaking his personal best twice this season while chasing the tenth-ranked mark (16.82m) in UB indoor history. The junior's new personal record ranks eighth in the conference.

Jean Desir earned ninth in the 60-meter dash finals with a time of 7.14. Desir qualified for the finals with a time of 7.07 in the preliminary round. Desir later took 16th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.80. Brandon Robinson was the second Buffalo sprinter to place inside the top 20 in the field of 65, with a time of 22.83.

Brian Murphy finished fourth in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.65 meters.

Kenneth Gulloso took fifth of 34 athletes in the men's weight throw with a mark of 15.40 meters.

Connor Domoy opened the meet for the Bulls in the men's 5,000-meter, setting a personal record time of 15:08.99 to finish fourth.

All results from the SPIRE Indoor Games can be accessed here.

The Bulls are back in action next weekend, one last time before MAC Indoor Championships, at Cornell's Marc Deneault Invitational. A full schedule for UB Track & Field can be accessed here.

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