Bulls Preview MAC Championship Course With A First Place Finish

Friday, October 13

Bowling Green, OH

4:30pm

Falcon Invite

Bulls Preview MAC Championship Course With A First Place Finish

10/13/2023 7:34:00 PM | Cross Country

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO – The University at Buffalo cross country team competed in the Falcon Invite on Friday evening, the exact same course in which the Bulls will compete for a MAC Championship at in two weeks. The Bulls finished first of ten teams in the men's 8k, with the women finishing sixth of nine teams in the women's 6k.

Senior Evan Hilbert led the way for the Bulls, finishing fifth overall among 100 total runners, with a time of 24:59.7. The next six Buffalo finishers all placed within 30 seconds of each other, with sophomore Matt Gensel finishing 8^th (25:10.9), Jacob Brink placing 11^th (25:16.4), William Marchant finishing 12^th (25:21.4), Sean O'Brien placing 13^th (25:28.2), and Luke Stoeffler (25:30.2) and Noah Brightman (25:31.9) rounding out the pack with 14^th and 15^th place finishes respectively.

"The team went to the front early and controlled the pace," said Associate Head Coach Todd Witzleben. "Our top seven packed up and worked together, earning a team victory which sets us up well for the MAC Championships back on this course in two weeks. We seem to be coming together at the right time."

On the women's side, Aleksandra Szulska was the headliner for the Bulls, placing third overall out of 117 total runners with a time of 21:14.1. Vassi Klock was next for the Bulls, placing 28^th (22:29.0), with Anna Recktenwalt falling in soon after for 32^nd place (22:33.1). The Buffalo top five was rounded out by Bronagh Cassidy (39^th, 22:44.0) and Paris Welker (46^th, 22:57.7).

"One of our strengths as a team has been closing out races well in the final 2,000 meters. Today our primary goal was to be more aggressive off the line," said Head Coach Vicki Mitchell. "Szulska had a very good opening mile, and she continued to run well throughout the race. Anna Recktenwalt led the next pack and Vassi Klock had a strong close over the final 200m. Each week is stronger, and we had a good preview of the MAC Championship course."

The Bulls will have members of the men's and women's cross country teams compete this Saturday afternoon in the Canisius Alumni Classic at Delaware Park, just two weeks ahead of returning to Bowling Green to compete at the MAC Championship on October 28^th.

For more coverage of Buffalo men's and women's cross country, follow the program on X (@UB_XCTF), Instagram (@BullsTFXC) and Facebook ("Buffalo Track & Cross Country").