Buffalo Competes in MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships

Most casual college sports fans know that UB has struggled for years to be a regularly respectable football team in the MAC. What they are not aware of is that outside of a few sports like Basketball, Rowing, and Tennis the Bulls have struggled in most MAC sports.

But things have been getting better.

There are not a whole lot of banners to hang around campus just yet but UB non-revenue and Olympic programs are quickly becoming a competitive lot in the conference. Baseball is to be feared rather than overlooked, Tennis is nationally ranked, rowing is as strong as ever, and even track and field are not starting to give as good as they get.

Both the Men's and Women's Track and Field Teams notched fourth-place finishes in this weekend's Conference Championships meet at the Kent State Fieldhouse, and two Bulls were recognized individually as Outstanding Performers.

For the Women, their fourth-place finish - with 58 points - out of twelve teams was the highest place in school history at this meet. Asia Henry earned individual recognition for Outstanding Female Track Performance.

The Men also secured their best ever finish as a member of the Mid American Conference. Both their place, and the 101 points accumulated were the best the school has ever done.

The Bulls effort was kicked off by Evan Palmer. The UB field thrower claimed the lone the Bulls lone MAC crown on day one of the competition. The Clifton Park senior collected his first conference championship with a school record throw of 68-07.25 (20.91m) in the weight throw.

On day two five more Bulls claimed individual titles.

Senior Jonathan Jones continued the UB's shot put dominance, winning his second straight  conference title aand the schools fifth individual title in the past six years. His throw was 62-07.25 (19.08m) which beat, by more than a foot, Kent State's Michael King.

Sophomore Mike Morgan became the first-ever Bull to win a conference title in the heptathlon and broke the school, MAC and facility record with 5,704 points.

The UB women's 4 by 400 team stormed from 6th plae all the way to first behind a strong second day from Donna Jeanty, Asia Henry, Crystal Graham and Camaria Long. The group broke a school, MAC and facility record run en route to the MAC crown. The winning team blazed their way to a crown in 3:39.70, the fastest time in the MAC this season.

Asia Henry also set the school record and MAC record in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:06.68. For her performance in the 800 meter run and 4x400 meter relay, Henry was named Outstanding female track performer. In the 200 meter dash, Sophomore Camaria Long put together the best run of her career, finishing with a school record of 24.09 seconds en route to her first career MAC crown.

The Men's distance medley team of Alec Peinkofer, Tyler Scheving, Brian Cummiskey and Brian Crimmins also collected a MAC title. The quartet of runners finished the event with a school record time of 9:52.37.

The final Mid-American Conference champion of the day for the Bulls was junior Chris Reape in the high jump. The Rochester, NY native broke the school record with a leap of 7-00.50 (2.15m) on his way to his first MAC crown.

While the season is over for the teams two UB Bulls will go on to nationals.

A Pair Of Bulls Qualify For NCAA Indoor Track And Field Championships - Buffalo
The University at Buffalo track and field teams will have two representatives make the trip to the NCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM, as announced by the NCAA offices on Wednesday. Jonathan Jones will be making his second straight appearance in the shot put while sophomore Mike Morgan will be making his debut in the heptathlon.