The Buffalo State track and field team finally kicked off their outdoor season at an unseasonably late opening meet at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia last Friday and Saturday.

Due to poor weather, the first two track meets were cancelled. Buffalo State finally laced up their track spikes to compete at the Captains Classic where they claimed first place in three events in the non-team scored meet.

“This was the first meet of the season, so we were getting a feel for being outside. The first two meets being cancelled kind of threw our workouts off a little bit,” freshman long jumper James Willard said. “Everyone else was competing already, so we started competing against each other in practice to help our bodies not get sore.”

Senior Jazlyn Porter took the 400-meter dash event with a 57.16 second finish, 16^th best in D-III this season, and also placed first in the long jump (5.37m). She was the runner-up in the 200-meter dash (25.37s).

“The first two meets being snowed out kind of gave us less opportunity to compete and work towards our times for nationals,” sophomore high jumper Jamie Mullings said. “But our coaches have added some last chance meets to help us have enough time to be able to improve.”

Mullings brought home a win for the Bengals, placing first in the high jump with a mark of 2.03 meters, eighth highest mark in D-III this season. Willard placed sixth in the long jump with a 6.24-meter leap

The women’s team followed with sophomore Catarra Burroughs and senior sprinter Shuntone Pricher winning the 100-meter dash with matching times of 12.55s.

Sophomore Robert Liebel was runner-up in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.17 seconds.

“Everyone did well overall. The weather was really nice down there, so it was good for our first official meet to be able to run outside in warm weather,” Liebel said. ”Everyone was looking forward to this particular meet and excited to get outside and show off our times.”

Freshman Javon Biggs made the most of his first meet with a long jump of 6.24m, good for third. Sophomore Eli Lawal came in sixth in the high jump (1.83m).

Freshman Mike Roach came in fifth in both the 200-meter dash (22.61s) and 100-meter dash (11.19s). Freshman Ronni Kordrupel finished sixth for the women’s team in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:22.50.

“Your teammates really build you up; they’re there for you. They care, even if you get hurt, they’re the first ones before the coaches are even out there to help you up,” Willard said. “Track is very mental, so having a team that is supportive in a sport that we are competing, sometimes as individuals, is great.”

The teams will travel to Berea, Ohio to compete at Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday.

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