Battling the elements is part of the job description when you compete in outdoor track events. The men and women track teams had to call on this skill over the weekend at the Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.
Top competition from around the region competed at the George L. Rider Track and Field Complex this weekend at the event hosted by the Miami University men's and women's track teams.
The men's invitational featured 15 teams, including eight from the Buckeye State, while the women's invitational boasted an 18-team field with three Mid-American Conference schools.
The men finished with 106 points which was good enough for a third place team finish while the women racked up 91 points, and also took third.
"It is very difficult facing this weather, and we have been off three weeks, but at the same time we didn't want any injuries," Jenkins said. "You don't want to get injured in this meet because in four weeks we have our Mid-American Conference championship."
On the men's side, the Bulls looked tremendous on the track and in their field events. The men earned three first place finishes along with four second place finishes to pace their day.
Standouts for the men include familiar names such as senior jumper Rayshon Higgins took first place in the men's triple jump with a leap of 47 feet 4 inches. Sophomore thrower Jacob Madonia earned first in the discus with a toss of 147 feet 8 inches.
Madonia also grabbed second in the shot put with a throw of 51 feet 5 inches. Rounding out the top spots for the Bulls, was senior hurdler Todd Joki, who won the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.13 seconds.
Junior Peter Godios took second place in the javelin toss with a throw of 165 feet. Also taking a second was freshmen sprinter Ezekiel Porter, who finished the 100 yard dash in a time of 11.3 seconds. The 4-by-100 relay team captured second place as the team of Porter, senior sprinter Reggie Rucker, sophomore sprinter James Graber and senior sprinter Roy Richards clocked in with a time of 42.58 seconds.
"We feel that our strong point is the sprints, the jumps and throws on the men's side," Jenkins said. "But in weather like this, your sprinters and jumpers cannot perform to their top caliber."
The women's squad also had their fair share of top finishes, earning four first places, two second places, and two third places.
The Bulls were paced by senior thrower Sarah Vance, whose 178 foot toss in the hammer throw earned her a first place finish. Vance also took first in the shot put with a launch of 46 feet 5 inches. Vance also placed in the discuss throw, taking home a second place finish with a throw of 131 feet five inches.
Junior thrower Vanessa Roelofson took home first in the javelin, launching the spear 43 feet. Junior thrower Tina Villa won the discus with a throw of 138 feet. Villa also grabbed second in the shot put, finishing behind Vance, with a throw of 44 feet 3 inches.
Buffalo's third place finishes came from sophomore jumper Caitlin Godin who jumped 5 feet 3 inches in the high jump and junior pole vaulter Carrie Hinners who flew 10 feet 11 inches for her third place finish.
"I have no doubt about it that we will be one of the top 4 teams in the MAC on the men's side and a top four team on the women's side," Jenkins said. "Our student athletes are looking forward to next weeks meet, to be at home in front of their families."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
