Cross Country Teams Set to Host UB Stampede Invite
9/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
BUFFALO, NY – A stampede is coming to Grand Island.
The University at Buffalo men's and women's cross country teams will host the annual UB Stampede Invitational on Saturday, September 15 at Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island. The women's 5K race will begin at noon with the men's 8K event going off at 12:45 pm.
Joining the Bulls for the 2012 edition of the Stampede Invite are Mid-American Conference foes Akron and Bowling Green along with Niagara and Robert Morris. The Colgate University men's squad will also compete.
UB opened the season two weeks ago at Colgate's Harry Lang Invitational as both squads finished fourth among 11 teams. UB's men, currently ranked 12th in the USTFCCCA's Northeast Region, trailed only regionally ranked Syracuse and Navy and 2011 Patriot League runner-up American in the final team standings. Junior Zach Ahart, with a 14th-place finish among 106 entrants, was UB's top finisher in 20:36 for 6.4K. In the women's meet, run at 4.2K, the Bulls were fourth behind regionally ranked squads from Syracuse, Bucknell and Navy. Sophomore Gabby Leo finished in 13th place in 16:47.
The UB Stampede Invite will be the first of two meets that the Bulls will host at Beaver Island this season. The MAC Cross Country Championships will be held at the site on October 27.
"Hosting the annual UB Stampede Invite provides our team with the opportunity to compete at home against great competition with the support of family and friends. It is always a highlight meet of our season," said head coach Vicki Mitchell. "This year, as we prepare to host the MAC Championships, it is going to be a very valuable meet for our team to get a feel for the course prior to the championships. We expect our teams to compete strong, knowing this is step two [following the Colgate Invite] in our climb to the MAC and NCAA Regional Championships. Goals are high, and we are particularly excited to have the quality of the visiting teams this year."
