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UB Men's Cross Country Announces Awards

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men’s cross country squad presented its team awards for the 2006 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at the Millennium Hotel on May 1.

Head coach Vicki Mitchell made the following presentations: Jason Ayr (Westfield, MA/Westfield) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Paul Riley (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Chris McClure (Trumansburg, NY/Charles O. Dickerson) received the Coaches’ Award; and Andy Leonard (Spencerport, NY/Churchville-Chili) was named Most Outstanding.

Jason Ayr

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. Ayr raced in all seven meets for the Bulls in 2006, posting four top-15 finishes. He turned in a fastest 8K time of 26:39 at the Paul Short Invitational at Bethlehem, PA, finishing 180th among the 278 entrants. The Paul Short event was the largest meet of the season for the Bulls with 42 teams entered.

Paul Riley

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. Riley raced in six meets. He posted a top 8K mark of 27:16 at the University of Toledo Invitational as the Bulls won the team title at the meet. Riley also had a ninth-place finish at the season-opening Tommy Evans Invitational at the University of Akron.

Chris McClure

The Coaches’ 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. McClure, last year's Coaches' Award recipient as well, appeared in just four meets in 2006 and had a best 8K time of 26:49 at the Paul Short Invitational. His highest finish for the year was a 17th-place showing at the UB Stampede Invitational in an 83-runner field. McClure also was awarded the Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award, as selected by the UB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Andy Leonard

The Most Outstanding Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Leonard, selected as UB's Most Improved following the 2005 season, appeared in six meets and had three top-five finishes. He won the individual title at the Toledo Invitational, turning in a 25:55 showing as the Bulls won the team title with a perfect 15 points. His top 8K mark was 25:14 at the Paul Short meet, finishing 49th overall. In the classroom, Leonard was also selected to the Academic All-MAC team following the season.

The Bulls completed their season with a seventh-place finish at the MAC Championships, which the team hosted at Beaver Island State Park and followed with a 22nd-place showing at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships.