Cross Country Weekly Release
9/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Bulls Open Competition at Tommy Evans Meet
The University at Buffalo men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2011 season with a series of double dual meets at the University of Akron's Tommy Evans Invitational at Firestone Metro Park on Thursday evening. The meet, which also featured squads from Mid-American Conference foes Akron and Kent State as well as Youngstown State and Malone, was scored as separate dual meets. The UB men went 1-3 in the four competitions, winning over Youngstown State. The UB women split the four competitions, with victories against Kent State and Youngstown State.
Houghmaster Leads Men's Squad
After a strong track season, Steve Houghmaster made his first appearance in a UB cross country meet an impressive one. Houghmaster finished second along the four-mile course in 20:15, one second behind Akron's Brad Hough (20:14). Houghmaster competed last year with UB's men's indoor and outdoor track squads. He finished eighth in the mile at the MAC Indoor Championships and was sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and eighth in the 5,000-meter run at the MAC's Outdoor Championship. Other men's finishers for the Bulls included John Inzina, who placed sixth overall in 20:34 and freshman Dylan Racha, who took 13th among the 44 entrants, in 21:00.
Bowers Tops Women's Finishers
Making her UB women's cross country debut, Lesley Bowers was UB's top women's finisher as she completed the 5K course in 19:29. Bowers competed for UB's outdoor track team in the spring. Freshman Gabby Leo was the next Bull to cross the finish line in 10th place in 19:33. Junior Caitlin Curry was UB's third runner as she took 14th in the 44-runner field in 19:36.
UB Stampede Coming to Beaver Island
UB hosts the annual UB Stampede meet on Saturday, September 17 at Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island. The women's 5K race will begin at noon with the men's 8K race to follow at 12:45 pm. Among the collegiate programs expected to compete at the meet are Geneseo, the University of Rochester, St. Bonaventure and Niagara. This will be UB's lone appearance at Beaver Island this season, although the Bulls will also host the NCAA Northeast Regionals in November. The regional meet will be held at the Audubon Golf Course just off the UB campus.
