Buffalo opened the outdoor track and field season last weekend with impressive outings by both squads, the men finishing second of eight and the women placing third of six teams at the Seahawk Invitational in North Carolina.
The University of North Carolina-Wilmington hosted the meet at its Harold Greene Track and Field Complex, where the men and women each brought home victories in three events. The men also posted three second-place finishers and the women had two.
For the men, senior Roy Richards took his indoor domination of the long jump outdoors. On Saturday, Richards won the event with his leap of 24 feet, 4 inches. Richards outdistanced Travis Midgette of UNC-Wilmington. Midgette's leap of 23 feet, 2 3/4 inches was not enough to catch a very strong Richards.
Junior Dan McKenna won the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase extending his strong indoor performance to the outdoors. McKenna won the steeplechase as he stayed ahead of his competition to finish at 9:11.37. Jeremy Wysocki of Heidelberg was the next competitor to cross the line a 9:50.94.
Senior Bryan Weinstein added to the list of victories for the men with a victory in the men's 200-meter dash. Weinstein finished the race in 21.95 seconds, just ahead of Greg Dunston of Campbell who finished in second-place with his time of 22.10 seconds.
A trio of second-place finishes was a key for the men's second-place finish overall.
Senior John Flor finished the 1,500-meter run in second-place with his time of 4:05.06. Greg Adams of Campbell won the event as he crossed the line in 4:02.98.
The men's 4x100-meter relay team also grabbed a second-place finish. The relay team finished in 42.85 seconds.
Sophomore Loic Sebuharara was also the runner up in the men's triple jump event. Sebhurara's jump of 45 feet, 1 1/2 inches was short of the 48-feet-10-inches leap of Midgette from UNC-Wilmington.
For the women, senior Jen Jezorski took the crown in the 800-meter run. Jezorski won overall with her time of 2:15.67. Jezorki held off Tara Dressler of Campbell who completed the race in 2:18.14.
The women's 4x400-meter relay "A" team, raced to a first-place finish. The team broke the tape at 3:59.34, edging out the UNC-Wilmington squad, which finished the relay at 3:59.86.
Sophomore Carrie Hinners took the pole vault crown for Buffalo. Her vault of 11 feet, 2 1/2 inches gave her the victory over Rhonette Phillips of UNC-Wilmington. Phillips' vault of 10 feet, 11 3/4 inches placed her second.
Senior distance runner Jenny Koeppel and sophomore thrower Vanessa Roelefson also brought in second-place finishes.
Koeppel finished second in the 5,000-meter run. Koeppel completed the race at 17:50.51. Ellie Fernandez of John Carroll led the pack and finished the event at an impressive 17:14.80.
Roelefson finished second in the javelin throw. Her throw of 147 feet, 11 1/2 inches was short of Anna Raynor of UNC-Wilmington. Raynor won the event with her launch of 170 feet, 10 3/4 inches.
On the men's side, UNC-Wilmington won overall in team scoring with 275 points, followed by Buffalo (84), John Carroll (79), Livingstone (44), Campbell (41), Rio Grande (33), Heidelberg (28) and Methodist College (2).
UNC-Wilmington also won for the women as they totaled 317 points followed by Campbell (86), Buffalo (82), John Carroll (50), Livingstone (19), Rio Grande (10).
The Bulls next compete March 24-25 in Greensboro, N.C., in the Greensboro Relays. Buffalo will look to continue their its in the Tar Heel State.
