Bulls Open Cross Country Season at Tommy Evans Invite

Jacob Hagen

AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo’s men’s and women’s cross country teams opened the 2009 season at the Tommy Evans Invitational at Akron’s Firestone Metropark on Saturday afternoon. The UB men tied for third in a five-team field while the UB women finished fourth among the five schools.

In the men’s four-mile race, UB’s top finisher was junior Jacob Hagen as he was the lone Bull to place among the top 10. Hagen placed 10th in 20:53 as a total of 65 racers completed the course.

Senior Mike Gillis placed 16th in 21:23 in his debut with the Bulls. Sophomore Dylan Conway was 17th in 21:26. All-MAC 2008 honoree Ryan Bloom placed 20th in 21:34 and senior Ryan Zillman finished 21st in 21:35 to round out the UB scoring.

Jackie Bozich

The women’s 5K race saw UB junior Jackie Bozich lead the Bulls with her 20:03 clocking to finish 13th among 57 entrants. Sophomore Jackie Cavalluzzo took 14th in 20:16.

Freshmen Emma Denton and Katie Sanders (Rochester, NY/Spencerport) finished 16th and 17th, respectively, in 20:31 and 20:32. Freshman Sam Beim (Merrick, NY/Mepham) and junior Ellen Muster both finished in 20:42 placing 19th and 20th overall.

Kent State’s Aiman Scullion won the men’s race in 20:18 with Akron’s Kim Lorentz took the women’s event in 18:41.

The UB men tied Ohio Northern for third place with 84 points. MAC foes Kent State (18) and Akron (72) finished ahead of the Bulls with Youngstown State finishing fifth with 110 points.

The UB women scored 79 points for a fourth-place showing. Akron won the women’s team title with 50 points, followed by Youngstown State (56) and Kent State (70). Ohio Northern was fifth at 88 points.

The Bulls travel to the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday, September 11 for their next competition. The first race is slated for 5:30 pm.