UB Cross Country Teams Set to Open 2014 Slate in Pittsburgh
8/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
PITTSBURGH, PA – The University at Buffalo cross country teams will open their 2014 schedule Saturday at the Duquesne Duals. The women's five-kilometer race begins at 9:00 AM and the men's 8K will follow at 9:45 AM at Schenley Park.
"We are excited to get our first meet in this weekend at Duquesne," said director and head coach Vicki Mitchell. The Bulls open in Pittsburgh before returning home for their lone home meet of 2014, the UB Stampede.
"The intensity shown in the first week and a half of the season has been excellent," Mitchell stated. "We have a mix of returning veterans, as well as a strong group of freshmen that will be competing throughout the season. We're going into the first meet running a limited squad with the expectations of setting the bar very high."
The Bulls return 11 men, and six of its top seven, and 14 women from the 2013 squads that finished fifth and seventh, respectively, at the MAC Championships.
"The men's team is coming off a very strong track season. We expect to see great improvements from last year's cross country season.
"The women's team has three seniors that have helped to create a cohesive and strong team environment. They have shown strong improvements each year, and know the competitive nature of the MAC," Mitchell said.
Junior Cameron Bruce returns Buffalo's second-best 8K time of 2013 – a 24:44 finish at the Princeton Invitational. Sophomore Alec Peinkofer registered the next-fastest finish of 25:25 on the same course.
Senior Chrissy Clarkin paced the Bulls with a first-place 5K finish of 18:24 at the UB Stampede last season. Classmate Gabby Leo was the runner-up with an 18:48 finish.
