Women’s Cross Country Claims Third Place as Bulls Show Improvement at Paul Short Invitational

Friday, October 1

Bethlehem, PA

M: 11 a.m. / W: 1 p.m.

Paul Short Invitational

Women’s Cross Country Claims Third Place as Bulls Show Improvement at Paul Short Invitational

10/1/2021 3:08:00 PM | Cross Country

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The University at Buffalo cross country team traveled to Lehigh University for the Paul Short Invitational on Friday. The Bulls ran in four races: the women's open 6k, the men's open 8k, the women's college 6k brown, and the men's college 8k gold. The men finished in 14^th out of 40 programs in the 8k gold race which featured the toughest competition as they tallied 431 points. The women's team took home some hardware as they claimed third place with a total of 173 points out of 39 schools in the brown 6k race.

In the men's college 8k gold race, over 350 runners participated. The Bulls went up against the Iona Gaels who are currently ranked No. 1 in the USTFCCCA Northeast Region poll. The Bulls finished ahead of the Gaels by three spots and 65 points. Ryan Buzby was the first Bull to stampede to the finish line in 24:21.9 for 55^th place in a season-best time. Armani Merlino (24:30.9, 68^th), Scott Loforte (24:32.6, 72^nd), Thomas Flannery (24:43.4, 90^th), William Marchant (25:20.1, 174^th), Alex Hislop (25:21.9, 178^th), Evan Hilbert (25:29.6, 203^rd), Oscar Vazquez (25:29.8, 204^th), Sean O'Brien (25:50.8, 255^th), and Patrick Hazlitt (25:53.3, 263^rd) also finished with season-best times in the 8k race.

The highlight of the day came in the women's brown 6k race as the Bulls ran to a third place finish. Miami (Fla.) took home first with Dickinson finishing second. Riley Jones led the way for the team with a 9^th place finish in 21:28.5. The team had three runners finish in the top-25 as Anya Schmitt (21:36.2, 12^th) and Alexia Hecico (21:53.8, 21^st) had strong races. Lily Meek (22:24.5, 62^nd) and Heidi Eberhardt (22:54.0, 84^th) rounded the top-five for the Bulls. Underclassmen Chloe Freeland (23:23.1, 133^rd), Elizabeth Powers (24:01.7, 200^th), and Alexandra Cowley (24:13.8, 217^th) gave depth to the team along with Jade Dennis (23:28.6, 149^th). Over 340 individual runners participated in the event.

In the women's college open 6k race, Ilsa Kloiber finished in 155^th place in 25:10.5 as Hannah Sullivan crossed the line in 25:46.5 for 192^nd. Eight Bulls ran in the men's college open 8k race as Michael Neeson led the way with a 27^th place finish in 25:27.2. Also participating were Cory Demo (25:31.5, 30^th), Christopher Nowak (26:03.3, 74^th), Nicholas Taboni (26:04.2, 76^th), Brett Russell (26:23.6, 102^nd), Justin Tedeschi (26:48.6, 140^th), Matthew Persampieri (27:12.2, 182^nd), and Zachary Medicis (27:31.8, 210^th).

The Bulls will have next week off as they prepare for the Penn State National Open on Friday, Oct. 15 in University Park, Pa.

For complete results, click here.

For news and updates about the UB cross country teams, follow them on Twitter and check the official website of the UB Bulls.

*MEN'S COLLEGE 8K GOLD RESULTS* 55. Ryan Buzby – 24:21.9 68. Armani Merlino – 24:30.9 72. Scott Loforte – 24:32.6 90. Thomas Flannery – 24:43.4 174. William Marchant – 25:20.1 178. Alex Hislop – 25:21.9 203. Evan Hilbert – 25:29.6 204. Oscar Vazquez – 25:29.8 255. Sean O'Brien – 25:50.8 263. Patrick Hazlitt – 25:53.3	*WOMEN'S COLLEGE 6K BROWN RESULTS* 9. Riley Jones – 21:28.5 12. Anya Schmitt – 21:36.2 21. Alexia Hecico – 21:53.8 62. Lily Meek – 22:34.5 84. Heidi Eberhardt – 22:54.0 133. Chloe Freeland – 23:23.1 149. Jade Dennis – 23:28.6 200. Elizabeth Powers – 24:01.7 217. Alexandra Cowley – 24:13.8
*MEN'S OPEN 8K RESULTS* 27. Michael Neeson – 25:27.2 30. Cory Demo – 25:31.5 74. Christopher Nowak – 26:03.3 76. Nicholas Taboni – 26:04.2 102. Brett Russell – 26:23.6 140. Justin Tedeschi – 26:48.6 182. Matthew Persampieri – 27:12.2 210. Zachary Medicis – 27:31.8	*WOMEN'S OPEN 6K RESULTS* 155. Ilsa Kloiber – 25:10.5 192. Hannah Sullivan – 25:46.5