Track and Field Set to Shuffle Out of Buffalo to Face Some of Nation’s Best
Buffalo State’s track and field teams are preparing to spend spring break competing in a pair of meets at the University of Miami (FL) competing against some of the premier collegiate track and field athletes in the nation.
The Bengals will be one of 21 schools competing in the Hurricane Invitational at Cobb Track and Field Facility in Coral Gables, Fla., on March 20-22. The field will include Division I competition from Albany, Texas-San Antonio, North Dakota State, South Carolina State, Central Florida, Rutgers, Marshall, Florida International, George Mason, Virginia Tech, Rhode Island, Pitt, Villanova, Connecticut, Furman, Bethune-Cookman and the host Hurricanes.
Buffalo State will remain in Miami and compete in the invite-only Hurricane Challenge on March 29 in a meet that will feature several elite teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Bengals received an invite to the meet to showcase several of their top sprinters and jumpers.
Among the elite athletes traveling as part of the Bengals’ travel party will be Latoya D. Edwards (Brooklyn/ Clara Barton), Mario Hicks (Corning/ Corning West) and Lavonne Barfield (Rochester/ Wilson Magnet) who concluded the indoor season last week at the NCAA Division III Championships. Edwards became just the second-ever Buffalo State female to capture All-America status in track and field, placing third in the 55-meter dash in a school record time of 7.12 seconds. Hicks was a repeat All-American in the 55-meter hurdles, placing fifth in 7.60 seconds. Barfield finished just one spot shy of the All-America cut-off, placing ninth in the long jump (5.41m).
Other Bengals to watch at the outdoor season opening meets will be Ali Abdul-Matin (Troy/ Troy) and Xavier Mateen (New Rochelle/ New Rochelle). Abdul-Matin captured the indoor SUNYAC championship in the triple jump, and Mateen is a three-time conference or state indoor champion specializing in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Willie Hordge (Buffalo/ Forestbrook TX), a two-time outdoor national champion sprinter, will not make the trip as he continues to recover from an injury suffered during the indoor season.
The Bengals will be one of 21 schools competing in the Hurricane Invitational at Cobb Track and Field Facility in Coral Gables, Fla., on March 20-22. The field will include Division I competition from Albany, Texas-San Antonio, North Dakota State, South Carolina State, Central Florida, Rutgers, Marshall, Florida International, George Mason, Virginia Tech, Rhode Island, Pitt, Villanova, Connecticut, Furman, Bethune-Cookman and the host Hurricanes.
Buffalo State will remain in Miami and compete in the invite-only Hurricane Challenge on March 29 in a meet that will feature several elite teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Bengals received an invite to the meet to showcase several of their top sprinters and jumpers.
Among the elite athletes traveling as part of the Bengals’ travel party will be Latoya D. Edwards (Brooklyn/ Clara Barton), Mario Hicks (Corning/ Corning West) and Lavonne Barfield (Rochester/ Wilson Magnet) who concluded the indoor season last week at the NCAA Division III Championships. Edwards became just the second-ever Buffalo State female to capture All-America status in track and field, placing third in the 55-meter dash in a school record time of 7.12 seconds. Hicks was a repeat All-American in the 55-meter hurdles, placing fifth in 7.60 seconds. Barfield finished just one spot shy of the All-America cut-off, placing ninth in the long jump (5.41m).
Other Bengals to watch at the outdoor season opening meets will be Ali Abdul-Matin (Troy/ Troy) and Xavier Mateen (New Rochelle/ New Rochelle). Abdul-Matin captured the indoor SUNYAC championship in the triple jump, and Mateen is a three-time conference or state indoor champion specializing in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Willie Hordge (Buffalo/ Forestbrook TX), a two-time outdoor national champion sprinter, will not make the trip as he continues to recover from an injury suffered during the indoor season.
Media Contact:
Jeff Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu