Saturday, October 30
Ypsilanti, MI
M: 8k - 11 a.m. / W: 6k - Noon
at
Mid-American Conference Championships
Cross Country Ramps Up for MAC Championships
10/28/2021 1:54:00 PM | Cross Country
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo cross country team will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. for this year's Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 30. The men's 8k race is set to start at 11 a.m. with the women's 6k to follow at noon.
Both programs are hitting their strides at the right time and look to improve on last year's finishes. At the 2020 MAC Championships, the men's team finished in third place with 94 points while the women's team finished in 12th with 357 points.
MEN'S SIDE
The Bulls bring an abundance of depth to Ypsilanti with a roster that has 12 upperclassmen and graduate students. Scott Loforte, Ryan Buzby, and Armani Merlino have led the Bulls this season as they have all had consistent seasons. Loforte has competed at three major races this season: the Coast to Coast Battle at Beantown, Paul Short Invitational, and the Penn State National Open. His best 8k time came at the Coast to Coast Battle at Beantown. Just like Loforte, Buzby competed in the same races with fantastic finishes including a 42nd place finish at Penn State. Merlino goes into the championships with a season-best time of 24:30.9 at the Paul Short Invitational. The program will seek their first MAC title as well as first conference champion since 2013 when Starpoint alum Zach Ahart won in a time of 24:47.6.
WOMEN'S SIDE
Senior Riley Jones has had a standout season. Jones has finished in the top-10 in the four races she has ran this season with a top time of 21:28.5. She will try and win the Bulls' first individual title since 2004 when Jenny Koeppel won. Alexia Hecico has had a solid season as she has two top-10 finishes along with a 21st place finish at the Paul Short Invitational. Freshman Anya Schmitt will see her first MAC Championship action and has had a stellar season up to this point. In all her races, she has four top-15 finishes with a 6k best time of 21:36.2. Just like the men's team, the UB women's cross country team will do their best to capture their first ever MAC championship.
MEN'S TOP 8K TIMES
WOMEN'S TOP 6K TIMES
CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
For news and updates about the UB cross country teams, follow them on Twitter and check the official website of the UB Bulls.
Both programs are hitting their strides at the right time and look to improve on last year's finishes. At the 2020 MAC Championships, the men's team finished in third place with 94 points while the women's team finished in 12th with 357 points.
MEN'S SIDE
The Bulls bring an abundance of depth to Ypsilanti with a roster that has 12 upperclassmen and graduate students. Scott Loforte, Ryan Buzby, and Armani Merlino have led the Bulls this season as they have all had consistent seasons. Loforte has competed at three major races this season: the Coast to Coast Battle at Beantown, Paul Short Invitational, and the Penn State National Open. His best 8k time came at the Coast to Coast Battle at Beantown. Just like Loforte, Buzby competed in the same races with fantastic finishes including a 42nd place finish at Penn State. Merlino goes into the championships with a season-best time of 24:30.9 at the Paul Short Invitational. The program will seek their first MAC title as well as first conference champion since 2013 when Starpoint alum Zach Ahart won in a time of 24:47.6.
WOMEN'S SIDE
Senior Riley Jones has had a standout season. Jones has finished in the top-10 in the four races she has ran this season with a top time of 21:28.5. She will try and win the Bulls' first individual title since 2004 when Jenny Koeppel won. Alexia Hecico has had a solid season as she has two top-10 finishes along with a 21st place finish at the Paul Short Invitational. Freshman Anya Schmitt will see her first MAC Championship action and has had a stellar season up to this point. In all her races, she has four top-15 finishes with a 6k best time of 21:36.2. Just like the men's team, the UB women's cross country team will do their best to capture their first ever MAC championship.
MEN'S TOP 8K TIMES
- Ryan Buzby – 24:21.9
- Cory Demo – 25:31.5
- Thomas Flannery – 24:43.4
- Patrick Hazlitt – 25:53.3
- Evan Hilbert – 25:29.6
- Alex Hislop – 25:21.9
- Scott Loforte – 24:32.6
- William Marchant – 25:20.1
- Zachary Medicis – 27:31.8
- Armani Merlino – 24:30.9
- Michael Neeson – 25:27.2
- Christopher Nowak – 26:03.3
- Sean O'Brien – 25:50.8
- Matthew Persampieri – 26:55.3
- Brett Russell – 26:23.4
- Nicholas Taboni – 26:04.2
- Justin Tedeschi – 26:48.6
- Oscar Vazquez – 25:29.6
WOMEN'S TOP 6K TIMES
- Meghana Caron – 23:30.5
- Allison Cline – 24:35.3
- Alexandra Cowley – 24:13.8
- Jade Dennis – 23:28.6
- Heidi Eberhardt – 22:54.0
- Chloe Freeland – 23:23.1
- Alexia Hecico – 21:53.8
- Riley Jones – 21:28.5
- Ilsa Kloiber – 25:10.5
- Lily Meek – 23:25.0
- Elizabeth Powers – 24:01.7
- Anna Recktenwalt – 25:25.7
- Anya Schmitt – 21:36.2
- Hannah Sullivan – 25:39.9
CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
For news and updates about the UB cross country teams, follow them on Twitter and check the official website of the UB Bulls.
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