CROSS COUNTRY

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BUFFALO, NY ­ The University at Buffalo men's cross country squad presented its team awards for the 2002 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at Samuel's Grande Manor.

Head coach Vicki Mitchell made the following presentations: Brian Smith (Rochester, NY/East Rochester) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Joel Beatty (Holley, NY/Holley) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Todd Ludden (Hornell, NY/Hornell) received the Coach's Award; and Jerimie Slick (Greece, NY/Greece-Olympia) was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Brian Smith

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student-athlete who distinguishes himself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Smith participated in eight meets in his first season with the team. His best 8K time was 26:21.35 at the Iona Meet of Champions where he finished 17th in a field of 43 runners.

Joel Beatty

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in his performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Beatty raced in eight meets. His best mark was 25:47.50 for 8K at the MAC Championships in Oxford, OH where he placed 41st among 99 entrants.

Todd Ludden

The Coach's Award is selected by the head coach and is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the team virtues as defined by the head coach. The recipient is one who stands out in dedication, commitment, unselfishness and enthusiasm towards helping the team improve. Ludden, the team MVP the previous two seasons, scored a first-place finish in defending his title at Akron's Tommy Evans Invitational to begin the 2002 campaign. He completed the four-mile course in 20:05. He also turned in his best 8K clocking of the season the following week with a 24:54.41 to finish fourth at the Iona Meet of Champions.

Jerimie Slick

The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Slick, the Coach's Award recipient the previous year, earned first-team All-MAC honors with his third-place finish at the league meet in 24:09.40, his best 8K clocking of the year. He also turned in a 31:22.8 in his only 10K race of the year, the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, to place 16th among 223 runners. Slick finished among the top four in six of his eight races during the 2002 season.

The Bulls completed their season with a 6-3 overall record and 2-2 MAC dual meet record. The team also recorded a sixth-place finish at the MAC Championships and followed with a 12th-place showing at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships.