The track and field team will sprint, jump, throw and race at UB Stadium for the first and only time this year as they host the UB Open this weekend.
The Open is the only home meet for the Bulls and an important bridge for UB's track and field team as Buffalo prepares for the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championships and the NCAA Regionals.
Buffalo's challengers include teams from Fredonia, Alfred University, Alfred State University and Erie Community College. Club runners from Niagara University and Daemen College will also be participating, and a few Canadian club teams will cross the border to battle the American competition.
Home has been sweet for the Bulls in the past. Last year, the UB women won their home meet by nearly 30 points while on the men's side the Bulls were first out of four teams, winning by nearly 40 points.
UB's coaching staff has big expectations for the meet despite the fact that many of the Buffalo athletes will be competing in events in which they do not normally compete.
"I would expect both the men's and women's teams to have good team showings. Some of our athletes will be competing in different events, but will still do very well," said Buffalo head coach Vicki Mitchell. "The UB Open allows us to focus on preparations for the event that our athletes will be keying on over the next few weeks."
The athletes are also excited to be competing in front of their fans and fellow athletes.
"I am excited to be running in front of a home crowd. I have been to few races where I was the only athlete from UB. I am much more comfortable when I am on the track with my teammates, so you can imagine that the feeling of being with my teammates and also with a crowd full of UB fans would be even greater," said UB senior Jenny Koeppel.
UB's top performers on the women's side this year have been Koeppel and thrower Faith Thompson.
Thompson had a top five finish in every event she competed in during this outdoor season including two victories each in the hammer throw and shot put. Thompson was red-shirted last year and didn't compete at the 2004 home meet, but she remains the favored athlete in all of the throwing events at this year's UB Open.
On the track, Koeppel has been leading the Bulls this season. In the two events she generally races in, Koeppel claimed one victory and a second place finish.
"I look at each meet as a great opportunity to learn from the experience of racing and to gain a great training opportunity," said Koeppel.
The senior is also the returning champion at the UB Open's 5,000-meter run. She claimed the victory in a time of 17:40.95 last year, almost 17 seconds faster than the runner-up.
For this year's UB Open, Koeppel has a specific plan in order to get the most out of her day on the track, mainly in preparation for the big events coming up.
"This year at the home meet I am having some fun and running the 5,000 meters and then coming back and running the 15,000 meters to work on some speed," said Koeppel.
The men's team has also experienced a great deal of success this season, led mainly by Todd Joki and Gary Asbach. Both men have claimed victories and top finishes so far this season and opponents of both Joki and Asbach will have to keep an eye on them at the UB Open.
Asbach's two victories at the Ohio Invitational in the triple jump and the long jump are good indicators of his recent success heading into the home meet.
The UB Open is set to begin on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the UB Stadium.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
