Cross Country Weekly Release

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UB Teams Post Best MAC Finishes in Several Seasons

Both of the University at Buffalo cross country teams earned their best finishes in the last several years with their placings at the Mid-American Conference Championships, held Saturday at the Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, MI. The UB women, ranked 15th in the Northeast Regional poll according to the USTFCCCAA, placed seventh in a 12-team field with 177 points. The UB men finished sixth among nine teams with 169 points. The seventh-place women's finish was their highest since 2005 when they placed fourth. The men's finish was even more impressive as their finish was the best since a sixth-place in 2002.

Veith, Bloom Earn All-MAC Honors

Mary Veith

Two Bulls runners earned first-team All-MAC honors in their races. Senior Mary Veith finished fifth in the women's race and earned her third consecutive first-team All-MAC honor. Veith completed the 5K women's course in a season-best 17:16.4, slicing 57 seconds from her previous 5K best this season, 18:13, set at the UB Stampede Invitational on September 20. Veith's time was also the fastest of her four MAC Championship appearances, bettering the 17:48.6 mark set last season when she finished third. This is Veith's third consecutive time on the first-team All-MAC list. In the men's 8K race, sophomore Ryan Bloom finished fifth

Ryan Bloom

in a season-best 24:44.9, cutting nearly 20 seconds from his previous best, set at the Bowling Green Falcon Invitational two weeks ago. Bloom was narrowly beaten out for fourth place by Kent State's Aiman Scullion as he finished in 24:44.4. Bloom finished 34th at last season's meet, held in Bowling Green, OH, and improved his time at the championships by more than 1:20. It was UB's first All-MAC First Team honoree since Jeremie Slick accomplished the feat in 2002.

Women’s Runners Show Vast Improvements

Alex Bykowska

Besides Veith cutting nearly a full minute from her season-best 5K time, UB’s next four women’s placers also sliced their top marks. Jessica Schultz finished in 27th place overall in 18:05.4, an improvement of one minute. Ellen Muster took 32nd place in 18:10.6, cutting a full two minutes from her previous best (20:10 at the Tommy Evans Invitational). Alex Bykowska finished in 58th place in 18:37.6, an improvement of 57 seconds. Jackie Bozich finished in 68th place in 18:48.7, bettering her previous high by 1:06.

Men Run in the Pack, Finish as a Group

Ryan Zillmann

Aside from Bloom’s fifth-place finish, the remainder of UB’s men’s scorers ran as a group and finished within six places and 10 seconds of each other. Chris Allen was UB's second male finisher in 26:06.0 for 40th place. Ryan Zillmann was 44th in 26:11.5. Jacob Hagen placed 45th in 26:13.3 and Dylan Conway took 46th place in 26:16.0.

Believe in the Polls

Although the UB women placed in the middle of the pack, it should be noted that five of the six teams ahead of the Bulls were ranked in the USTFCCCAA's Great Lakes Regional poll. Kent State's women were also in the poll as the Bulls finished seven points ahead of the Golden Flashes.