Cross Country Runners Compete at Spartan Invitational

Mary Veith

EAST LANSING, MI – The University at Buffalo men's and women's cross country teams got a look at some strong competition from Big Ten and Mid-American Conference schools as the Bulls raced in the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Friday afternoon. There was no team scoring at the meet.

The UB women were paced by senior Mary Veith (Derby, NY/Lake Shore) making her season debut after sitting out the Tommy Evans Invitational last weekend. Veith completed the women's 6K course under overcast and rainy conditions in 22:18 to place 13th in the field of 163 runners. Veith finished behind eight Michigan State runners and three Miami (OH) placers as those two teams dominated the top ten. UB senior Jessica Schultz (Rochester, NY/Eastridge) was the next finisher in 23:02 for 32nd place. Junior Nicole Soblosky (Colonie, NY/Colonie) finished 34th in 23:03. Michigan State's Nicole Bush won the women's 6K race in 21:12.

Jacob Hagen

In the men's 8K race, UB sophomore Jacob Hagen (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) paced the Bulls with a 45th-place finish in 26:44. The men's field consisted of a total of 174 entrants. Hagen cut 42 seconds off last season's pace on the East Lansing course. As a freshman in 2007 he finished 70th in 27:26.

Ryan Bloom (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) finished 58th in 27:09 as UB's second male finisher.

Michigan and Michigan State runners dominated the men's field with the Wolverines and Spartans claiming the top 12 spots. Michigan's Craian Olionard won the overall 8K race in 24:44.

The Bulls host the UB Stampede Invitational on Saturday, September 20 at Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island. The women's race is slated for noon with the men's race following at 12:45 pm.