BULLS, ROYALS PREP FOR MID-CONS WITH STRONG UB OPEN SHOWINGS

Under adverse weather conditions, the UB track and field teams completed their regular seasons Saturday at the UB Open at UB Stadium.

Freshman hurdler Melissa Ryan broke her own school record by winning the 100-meter high hurdles in 14.44 to lead the Royals. Ryan's previous best was 14.68 set March 22 at the Wake Forest Invitational. The time is also the fastest in the Mid-Continent Conference this season, heading into this week's Mid-Con Championships at UB.

Ryan was also victorious in the 200-meter dash (26.14) and was part of the Royals' winning 4 x 100 relay squad with Lisa Kragbe, Jamie Hirschman and Amy Tabone in 50.15. Kragbe also won the 400 meters in 1:01.65 and 400-meter hurdles in 1:07.91.

Sophomore Jennifer Kilborn tied the school record and set a personal best by winning the triple jump with a leap of 11.17 meters.

The team of Karen Lilly, Casey Spencer, Marie Macander and Theresa Hummenyj took the 4 x 400 relay in 4:15.55. Lilly also won the 800 meters (2:26.77), while Macander won the 1,500 meters (4:56.64).

Also earning victories for the Royals

were Gretchen Welch in the 3,000 meters (11:06.11), Katy Spotts in the 5,000 (20:05.45), Rachael Refermat in the shot put (11.78 meters) and Ruth Conlon in the hammer throw (47.78 meters).

The Bulls picked up double wins from Omar Doyley, Kweli Musa and Matt Streng. Doyley won the 200 meters in 21.94 and combined with Mike Quagliata, Streng and Neil Murray to win the 4 x 100 relay in 43.8. Musa won the 800 meters (2:01.17) and was part of a foursome with Dave Clabeaux, Juan Somersel and Jordan Ganzelhaufer to win the 4 x 400 relay in 3:33.23. Streng won the javelin with a toss of 46.70 meters.

Also among the winners for the Bulls were Jelani Headley in the 100-meter dash (11.14), Pat Nolan in the 1,500 (4:13.5) and Chris Keenan in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:10.48).

Due to strong winds, the high jump and pole vault competitions were canceled.

The Bulls and Royals host the Mid-Continent Conference Championships Friday-Sunday, May 9-11.

McVIGE EARNS SPOT ON U.S. NATIONAL WRESTLING TEAM

UB wrestler Jeromy McVige posted upsets over the first- and fourth-ranked Greco-Roman wrestlers in the country to capture second place in the United States National Wrestling Championships on April 26, earning All-American honors and a berth on the U.S. National Wrestling Team.

Entering the tournament ranked seventh in the country in Greco-Roman, McVige defeated Anthony Napolitano by technical fall, 11-0 at 3:41 to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinal round, McVige upset fourth-ranked Phil Rembert 10-2, before upsetting top-ranked and defending U.S. National Champion Shon Lewis 7-3 to earn a trip to the finals. In the finals, McVige's run came to an end when he was defeated 10-0 by technical fall by 1996 World Cup Champion Kevin Bracken, an alternate on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman team.

Now ranked second in the country following his runner-up finish at the U.S. National Championships, McVige will represent the United States in the Concord Cup, an international tournament in Concord, Calif., to be held May 31-June 1. McVige then will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to wrestle in the June 26-28 U.S. Greco World Team Trials for the right to compete for the United States in the 1997 World Championships, to be held Sept. 8-13 in Warsaw, Poland.

Expected to compete collegiately for the UB Bulls next year at 134 pounds, McVige has established himself as one of the top Greco-Roman wrestlers in the United States. A two-time Northeast Regional Champion (1996 and 1997) and 1997 U.S. National runner-up, McVige traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., last summer to wrestle in the U.S. Greco-Roman Olympic Trials. McVige will again go to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in mid-May to begin training with Team USA for the Concord Cup.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office