It's recommended you change your oil every 3,000 miles and if you're going to travel to Akron, Ohio three times in one month, a quick tune up is always a good idea.
In their final meet before the Mid-American Conference Championships, the Buffalo men's and women's track and field teams were able to win four events during the Zips Open, Friday night. It was the team's second trip to Akron, the first coming in the first week of the month. The Bulls will be making their third trip to Akron from March 23-25 for the MAC Championships. Team scoring was not used at Friday's meet.
"It was one of those meets that you use as a practice or a warm-up," said men's head coach Perry Jenkins.
For the third time this season, Bulls senior Roy Richards won the long jump, with a distance of 23-10.75 (7.28m). Richards' closest competition, Akron's Johnny Adams, fell 13 inches behind. Richards has finished no worse than second in the event this year. Jenkins said that Richards' win was one of the few things that went well for the Bulls on the night.
Freshman Kyle Edwards of Buffalo defeated his only competitor in the men's triple jump. His mark of 44-00.75 (13.43m) was good enough to hold off Ashland's Joe Spitaro's distance of 38-07.75 (11.78m). The other runners, Bulls' freshman Brandon Stuart and junior Rashan Higgins fouled out.
In the women's 60-meter dash, Buffalo freshman Octavia Johnston was beat out by .03 seconds by Latalia Jones of Akron. Johnston finished with an official time of 7.75. She later dominated the women's triple jump at 37-1.25 (11.31m), bettering second-place finisher, Abbie Kuenzli of Ashland, by four feet. Both of Johnston's marks were season-highs.
Buffalo seniors Stacey Downer and Dana Ventrone also competed in the women's 60-meter dash, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. Downer came in fourth in the 200-meter dash, as well.
The Bulls' fourth victory came from senior Sarah Vance in the women's shot put event. She won with a throw of 51-06.50 (15.71m), defeating last week's MAC Field Athlete of the Week, Stevi Large. The Akron sophomore was credited with a 50.06.00 (15.39m) effort. Vance has won this event three times this season and finished in third twice. Junior Tina Villa finished in third, with a mark of 46-02.75 (14.09m). Both Vance and Villa had already qualified for post-season play.
Large got the better of Vance in the women's weight throw, however, as she set both Akron and MAC records with a weight throw of 66-07.25 (20.30m), breaking the previous record by almost a foot. Vance finished in fourth.
The Bulls finished second through fourth in the women's long jump event, as freshman Jessica Cooper, Ventrone, and freshman Kimarie Black were not able to beat the distance set by Akron's Neisha Kelly. Cooper's mark was recorded just one inch short of Kelly's 5.41m jump.
Buffalo senior Jessica Lister placed second in the pole vault. Her distance of 12-00.00 (3.66m) fell just six inches short of Akron's Carrie Hayes. Junior Carrie Hinners tied for third in the event.
Four Bulls participated in the men's 60-meter dash as freshman Ezekiel Porter led the way finishing in a team-high fourth-place. Richards (seventh), Edwards (10th), and freshman Brandon Stewart (13th) were the other runners in the event.
Senior George Fetchko and sophomores Jake Madonia and Alexandros Stamatakis finished in the top five in the men's shot put event. The three Bulls finished third through fifth, behind Ashland's Bryan Vickers' winning shot of 61-01.25 (18.62m).
"It was a chance to tune up for MAC's and it was the first time a lot of these kids have competed at night," Jenkins said. "We're excited about the MAC Championships next week. We can't wait to get this thing started."
The Bulls will put their well-oiled machine to the test again this Friday and Saturday as they return to the University of Akron Athletics Field House for the MAC Championships. Buffalo will look to repeat on last year's success where the teams combined for four MAC titles and three second-places.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
