University at Buffalo
MAC Outdoor Championships
Three Bulls Take The Podium on Day One of MAC Outdoor Championships
5/14/2026 8:53:00 PM | Track and Field
MUNCIE, Indiana – The University at Buffalo track and field program competed at day one of the MAC Outdoor Championships on Thursday, hosted by Ball State University. The Bulls had a strong day one, with three athletes taking the podium and four more qualifying for Saturday's finals in their events.
Brian Murphy was the first Bull to take the podium on day one, earning fourth in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.72 meters. The senior was one of four athletes in the conference to surpass the 4.70-meter mark of the nine competitors.
Stella Kapp was the next Bull to earn a podium placement, finishing sixth in the women's javelin throw with a distance of 40.88 meters. The mark was a new personal record that also ranks seventh in program history, surpassing her previous best of 37.59 meters.
Matt Gensel, Jacob Brink and Connor Domoy competed in the men's 10,000-meter run. Gensel was the program's top finisher and the third athlete to take the podium on day one, placing seventh with a time of 31:02.76. Brink was next to finish, taking 10th (31:34.15) and Domoy rounded out the Bulls' competitors in 11th (31:57.94).
Vassi Klock qualified for the 1,500-meter finals, scheduled to take place on Saturday at 11:35 a.m. Klock placed seventh of 19 runners in the event with a time of 4:27.25. The time was two seconds shy of her personal best (4:25.26), which ranks second in program outdoor history. Bronagh Cassidy (17th, 4:25.26) and Jacquie Appenheimer (19th, 4:48.13) also competed in the preliminary round.
Rylee VanAlstine qualified for the 400-meter hurdles finals, set to take place on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. The sophomore set a new personal best time of 54.09 seconds to take seventh place in the preliminary round. VanAlstine's performance also earned the ninth spot in UB outdoor history.
On the women's side of the 400-meter hurdles, Gemma Galligani qualified for Saturday's finals. The junior posted a time of 1:00.88 to take sixth place in the field of 25 athletes. Linnea Neureuther finished 10th in the field with a time of 1:01.24, missing the finals qualifying mark by just one-hundredth of a second (1:01.23).
Matthew Schaffert qualified for the 200-meter dash finals scheduled for Saturday at 1:35 p.m. Schaffert's time of 21.48 in the preliminary round of the event earned fifth of 13 sprinters. The time was just over a tenth of a second shy of his personal best performance in the event (21.36), which ranks sixth in program history. Freshman Keoni Chong also competed, finishing with a time of 21.67. Chong missed the finals cut by one-hundredth of a second (21.66).
On the women's side of the 10,000-meter run, Brianna Urban and Fiona Klingbeil competed for the program. Urban placed 21st (37:24.48) and Klingbeil finished 23rd (38:52.07).
WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON
Both Isa van Puffelen and Krista Perry competed in the women's heptathlon for the Bulls. van Puffelen ranks second of 12 athletes after the four events on the opening day, posting a score of 3,203. Perry sits in ninth, with a score of 2,924.
van Puffelen began the day of competition with a personal best time of 14.45 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. The sophomore continued by setting a personal record mark of 1.67 meters in the high jump. van Puffelen's jump joined the program's outdoor record book, tying Patrice Coney (2008) for 10th all-time. The sophomore then placed sixth in the shot put (10.90m). van Puffelen closed out day one with her third personal best performance of the afternoon, taking second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.07 seconds.
Perry opened the heptathlon with an eighth-place finish and a time of 14.69 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. The senior followed by taking ninth in the high jump with a mark of 1.55 meters and fifth in the shot put (11.37m). Perry rounded out day one by placing ninth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.62 seconds.
The heptathlon athletes will compete in the long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run on day two.
MEN'S DECATHLON
Brady Hughes represented for the Bulls in the men's decathlon, finishing fifth at the end of day one with a score of 3,313.
Hughes opened the event by finishing third in the men's 100-meter dash with a time of 11.38 seconds. The junior next placed seventh in the long jump (5.96m). Hughes highlighted day one by taking first in the shot put, posting a personal record mark of 14.33 meters. The junior was the only athlete in the field to surpass the 14.00-meter mark, nearly posting a full meter further than the second-place finisher (13.50m). Hughes rounded out day one by placing eighth in the high jump (1.78m) and seventh in the 400-meter dash (55.02).
The men's decathlon concludes on day two with the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500-meter.
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
| Akron | 60.5 |
| Miami (OH) | 29 |
| Kent State | 19.5 |
| Ohio | 13 |
| UMass | 8 |
| Toledo | 8 |
| Western Michigan | 5 |
| Central Michigan | 3 |
| Buffalo | 3 |
| Bowling Green | 2 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2 |
| Ball State | 2 |
| Northern Illinois | 1 |
MEN'S STANDINGS
| Akron | 59 |
| UMass | 25 |
| Kent State | 23 |
| Eastern Michigan | 23 |
| Miami (OH) | 21 |
| Buffalo | 7 |
The Bulls continue action at Ball State with day two of the MAC Outdoor Championships on Friday. Competition begins at 10 a.m.
All results from MAC Outdoor Championships. Event schedule, streaming links and information.
For 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").
Information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Ticket information regarding all athletic events.
