Records are made to be broken, but not twice in two weeks and certainly not by two people in the same day. But that's exactly what UB shot putters Byron McKinney and Joe Loiacano accomplished at the Sea Ray Relays at the University of Tennessee this past weekend, a nationally recognized track and field event featuring some of the top collegiate track and field athletes from the eastern half of the United States.
Just a mere fortnight ago, McKinney had set the school record with a throw of 53-10.5 at the Raleigh Relays. This time, McKinney shattered his previous mark with a toss of 54-7.25. Shortly thereafter, Loiacano set an identical mark to earn his place among the UB record books.
While their marks may have been the best in UB's history, they were overshadowed at the Sea Ray Relays by Purdue's Scott Hecht, who eclipsed both Bulls with his toss of 56-10. McKinney and Loiacano tied for second in the event.
Sprinter Joe Clark broke a much longer standing record - one that dated all the way back to 1994 - in the 400-meter dash. Clark crossed the finish line in 47.63 seconds to shatter the previous mark, held by Fumu Gakodi, of 48.12. Clark finished 22nd against a stacked competition.
Other notable results in the men's field were Rick Stewarts third-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Todd Ludden's 13th place finish in the 5,000-meter run with a time 15 minutes 23.70 seconds.
There was one more UB record to go by the wayside over the weekend, this time in the women's field. Faith Thompson broke her own record with a throw of 43-1.75. Her previous high was 42-10.5, set last season. She placed 17th overall.
Melissa Burrows placed highest among any of the Bulls women with her second-place finish in the 5,000-meter run at a time of 17:58.18, only 20 seconds behind the winner, Auburn University's Erica Braswell.
Next up for the Bulls is the Chancellors Cup to be held in Binghamton next weekend.
