The Buffalo State track and field program will look to continue its recent SUNYAC
success in the upcoming indoor season, slated to open this weekend when both teams
travel to Kent State University for a meet.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have been strong in the sprint events in recent years.
Following the success of the cross country season in the fall, it’s evident that both teams
may be poised for success during indoor season.
The men’s cross country team landed four runners in the top 40 finishers of the 2012
SUNYAC Championships, good enough for fourth place overall in the team standings.
“We’re hoping that success translates very well to indoor,” assistant coach Dustin Dimit
said. “In the past, we’ve been more sprints and jumps, but this year we’re looking to be a
much more balanced team with the success we’ve had this cross country season.”
Freshman Alex Ngabo was named to the United States Track and Field and Cross
Country Coaches Association All-Region Team this fall. According to Dimit, Ngabo was
the “top guy” on the cross country team, and will be expected to perform well in indoor.
Ngabo joins a team with plenty of returning talent, including hurdler Chris Rones and
sprinter Jimmy Campbell, both national qualifiers a year ago. However, the Bengals
will need to replace graduated seniors Tim Fargino, a SUNYAC champion in the 800-
meter, and Kyle Abron, who finished 4th in the triple jump at last season’s SUNYAC
Championships.
The women’s team also has some big shoes to fill after losing Erica Johnson and
Jessica Walker to graduation. Johnson is a former Division III National Champion in
the 55-meter dash and holds school records in three events. Walker was a SUNYAC
Champion in the triple jump last season and finished second in the 60-meter hurdles at
the SUNYAC Championships.
Despite the loss of Johnson and Walker, this season’s team still returns a number of
athletes who performed well last season. The Bengals won every sprint event at the 2011
SUNYAC Indoor Championships, and every one of those first-place finishers will return
this year.
Sasha Henry, the reigning SUNYAC Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete, won the
60- and 200- meter dashes as a junior last season. Jazmin Dunham won the 60-meter
hurdles as a sophomore and Mariah Brown won the 400-meter dash as a freshman.
“We’re looking to improve our strong performance from last season,” Dimit said. “We
want to remain one of the top teams in the conference.”
Even with last year’s success, Dimit still believes this group can be better.
“We always look for people to continually improve,” Dimit said. “We expect everyone to
step up a bit from last year.”
Dunham will be key to the team’s overall improvement. Named an All-American
following last year’s indoor season, Dunham was slowed by a nagging injury in outdoor.
This season, she has already set the bar high.
“This year I plan to stay healthy,” Dunham said. “That’s my number one goal. After
that, another All-American I guess. But this year I want to be a national champion. As a
junior, I feel like it would be the right time.”
Dunham also believes it’s the right time for her team to win the conference
championship.
“This year, we’re looking pretty good,” she said. “We have a lot of freshmen, but they’re
talented. I feel like we can win the SUNYAC and get our title back.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams open their seasons Friday.
Leif Reigstad can be reached by email at reigstad.record@live.com.