Bulls Post 13 Performances That Enter UB Indoor Ranks at Penn State National Open
2/1/2026 10:43:00 AM | Track and Field
STATE COLLEGE, Penn. – The University at Buffalo track and field program competed at the Penn State National Open on Friday and Saturday. The Bulls' last trip to Penn State showcased seven performances that entered the UB indoor record book. The program continued that momentum on the Ashenfelter Indoor Track, this time adding 13 new performances to the program record book.
FRIDAY
The Bulls started the meet at Penn State strong on the opening day, adding seven new performances to UB indoor record book.
Gemma Galligani had an impressive performance in the 60-meter hurdles, breaking her previous personal record of 8.64 seconds twice. The junior posted a time of 8.58 in the preliminary round, then doubled back to finish in 8.57 seconds in the semi-finals. The time of 8.57 rose to fifth in UB indoor history. Galligani placed fourth in the finals of the event, finishing in the top five in the field of 27 sprinters. The junior's new personal best ranks third in the conference.
Linnea Neureuther also had a strong showing in the 60-meter hurdles, qualifying for the semi-finals with a personal best time of 8.80. The sophomore doubled back to break her personal best again, this time finishing in 8.79 to take the ninth spot in program history.
Vassi Klock set a new personal record in the mile for the second time this year at Penn State, beating her previous record of 4:52.44 set at the Nittany Lion Challenge. Klock's time of 4:50.84 rose from fourth to third in program history, finishing 13th of 54 runners among the national field of competition.
Aidan Norris rose the men's 800-meter ranks, posting a time of 1:50.97 to take the fourth spot in UB indoor history. Norris' time also ranks first in the conference. The sophomore placed 15th of 51 runners in the event. Michael Huebner also set a season-best time of 1:53.64 in the event to place 28th. Xavier Gordon rounded out the Bulls' competitors in the event with a time of 1:55.56 to place 38th.
Juliette Salazar entered the program rankings on the women's side of the 800-meter,, posting a time of 2:12.39. Salazar's time took the eighth spot in program history and placed 16th of 37 runners in the event.
Sam Mellinger rose the ranks of the 60-meter dash for the second time this season, posting a time of 6.88 seconds to beat his previous best of 6.89 seconds. The improvement moved Mellinger from 10th to ninth in program history. The junior qualified for the semi-finals and finals, finishing eighth overall in the field of 34 runners. Matthew Schaffert posted a season-best time of 6.95 in the preliminary round and another season-best in the semi-finals of 6.94 seconds.
Keoni Chong was the final Buffalo runner to join the program ranks, finishing the men's 400-meter with a time of 48.81. Chong's time earned the 10th spot in program history and eighth overall in the field of 40 runners. Freshman Malachi Taylor trialed Chong to finish 12th with a time of 48.88 seconds, falling just shy of the UB indoor record book. Rylee VanAlstine also posted a top 20 placement in the event, finishing 19th with a time of 49.12.
Kara Moran finished fourth of 29 athletes in the women's long jump, posting a season-best mark of 5.85 meters. Moran was just shy of her indoor personal best (5.87m) that ranks fifth in indoor program history. The junior's season-best mark ranks fourth in the conference. Bhattacharjee (15th, 5.52m) and Shannon Schmieder (22nd, 5.36m) also competed.
In the men's long jump, Micah Blair placed third of 12 athletes with a mark of 6.85 meters. Daniel Muccini earned fifth (6.81m) and Ryan Cardichon finished 10th (6.44m).
The Bulls had three runners compete in the men's mile, with Noah Brightman (19th, 4:10.83), Collin Stafford (23rd, 4:11.55) and Vincent Guaresimo (30th, 4:14.77) all earning top 30 finishes. Stafford's time of 4:11.55 was a new personal best and fell just shy of the program's indoor rankings (4:11.36).
Fiona Klingbeil placed eighth of 17 runners in the women's 5,000-meter run. The freshman posted a time of 17:56.51. On the men's side, Matt Gensel finished 12th with a time of 15:02.09.
In the women's 60-meter dash, Uma Bhattacharjee placed 33rd of 61 runners with a time of 7.80 seconds. Hailey Martinez (42nd, 7.84), Sophia Sampson (49th, 7.89) and Schmieder (52nd, 7.95) also competed for the Bulls.
Brian Murphy posted a mark of 4.75 meters in the men's pole vault to place fourth. Murphy was just shy of his season-best mark (4.80m) that ranks fourth in the conference.
Loretta White competed in the women's weight throw, earning 12th of 26 throwers with a mark of 16.76 meters. White's mark was a season best. Kenneth Gulloso competed on the men's side of the weight throw, earning a mark of 15.01 meters.
SATURDAY
The Bulls continued their momentum on day two, adding six more performances to the program's indoor record book.
Salazar picked up where she left off on day one, opening day two at Penn State with a new personal best time of 1:33.61 in the 600-meter. The time was good to finish seventh in the field of 28 runners. Salazar rose to fourth in UB indoor history with the personal best.
Klock earned her second personal best time of the weekend, this time in the 1,000-meter. Klock's time of 2:52.70 rose to fifth in UB indoor history and earned second place of 20 runners in the event. Allison Newton also posted a personal best, finishing the event with a time of 2:54.2 to place seventh overall. Newton's new personal record rose to eighth in UB indoor history. Meghana Reddy also competed for the Bulls (17th, 3:06.49).
Norris was the fourth Buffalo runner to post a personal record performance that joined the program rankings. The sophomore finished the men's 1,000-meter with a time of 2:26.47, rising to fourth in UB indoor history. Norris surpassed his previous best in the event of 2:27.83, set earlier this season.
Jacob Brink and Cameron Bogdan both joined the program record book in the men's 3,000-meter. Brink posted a personal best time of 8:13.26 in the event, finishing seventh in the field of 26 and taking the fifth spot in the UB indoor record book. Bogdan earned ninth with a time of 8:15.10, joining the program's indoor record book to rank sixth. Collin Stafford also posted a top 10 placement for the Bulls, finishing 10th with a time of 8:15.63. Stafford's time was just shy of his personal best in the event (8:15.41) that now ranks seventh in UB indoor history.
The Bulls earned three of the top five spots in the men's triple jump. Nicalis Williams had a mark of 14.67 meters to place second. The freshman was just shy of his personal best (14.71m) that ranks eighth in UB indoor history. Mitch Diamond finished third in the event with a personal best mark of 14.52 meters. Diamond was just shy of the program record book (14.55m). Micah Blair nearly joined the program ranks in the triple jump too, setting a personal best mark of 14.51 meters.
Brightman earned a top 10 finish in the men's 1,000-meter with a time of 2:28.78. The senior was just shy of his indoor personal best time in the event (2:28.84) that ranks 10th in program history. Guaresimo also competed for the Bulls, placing 11th with a time of 2:29.35.
Sampson competed in the 200-meter on day two, placing 26th in the field 0f 61 with a time of 25.26. The sophomore fell just shy of her indoor personal best in the event that ranks 10th in program history (25.08). On the men's side, Braden Dunn placed 34th with a time of 23.10.
Bronagh Cassidy placed eighth of 21 runners in the women's 3,000-meter with a time of 9:59.84. Cassidy's time was a new indoor personal best.
Bryson Bodner set a new personal best shot put mark of 15.34 meters. The sophomore placed 18th. Aiden Walker also competed, finishing 22nd with a throw of 14.42 meters.
The Bulls had a strong performance in the women's high jump. Stella Kapp placed fifth with a mark of 1.70 meters. Akuot Kuany posted a season-best mark of 1.70 meters to place seventh and Adriana Ellsworth had a season-best of her own to place 12th (1.65m).
Neureuther (3rd, 12.20m) and Moran (4th, 12.05m) earned top-five placements in the women's triple jump. Moran was just shy of her indoor personal best performance in the event (12.07m) that ranks ninth in UB indoor history.
The Buffalo women closed out day two by setting a new season-best time in the 4x400-meter. Neureuther, Martinez, Newton and Salazar finished the event with a time of 3:51.36. The Buffalo men followed suit, setting a season best of their own. Chong, VanAlstine, Huebner and Taylor finished the event in 3:15.86.
All results from Penn State can be accessed here.
UP NEXT
The Bulls will next compete at Kent State's Doug Raymond Invitational on Friday, February 6th, through Saturday, February 7th. A complete schedule for UB Track & Field can be found here.
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