Photo by: Leo Lin
Bulls Earn USTFCCCA Regional Ranking in Men’s Cross Country
10/9/2024 11:38:00 AM | Cross Country
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's cross country team earned a spot in the regional rankings this week, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Bulls join the Northeast regional rankings at 13th, being one of three teams in the region to earn a ranking after being non-ranked in the preseason poll. The honor marks the 11th consecutive season in which the Buffalo men are ranked.
The Bulls joined the rankings following a strong weekend at Lehigh University's Paul Short Invitational, finishing 21st of 44 teams and placing ahead of several regionally ranked teams including UMBC, Bucknell, Central Connecticut, Monmouth and Rutgers. The strong team finish came with personal records and season-best performances for numerous athletes.
Noah Brightman (74th, 24:35.9) and Evan Hilbert (75th, 24:36.4) finished inside the top 75 runners in the field of 366 student-athletes, posting personal record times. Junior Jacob Brink was next to place for the Bulls, taking 139th with a time of 25:00.7. Junior Matt Gensel (183rd, 25:19.0) and sophomore Gabriel Cornfield (213th, 25:30.4) rounded out the Buffalo top-five, with Cornfield posting a personal record time. Freshman Collin Stafford was the sixth Bulls' runner to place, finishing just behind Cornfield with a time of 25:31.4 (217th).
The Buffalo men accomplished the same feat earlier this season at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational, taking 11th of 18 teams and finishing ahead of regionally ranked teams in Monmouth, Lehigh and Bucknell.
"We're making progress," said Men's Distance Coach Todd Witzleben. "We'll keep building. We should be tough to beat when the championship races begin."
The Bulls will next compete on October 19th at the Canisius Alumni Classic, a meet close to home right at Delaware Park in North Buffalo. The first race is set to begin at 12 pm that Saturday.
For all the latest on UB men's and women's cross country, follow the program on X (@UB_XCTF), Instagram (@BullsTFXC), and Facebook ("Buffalo Track & Cross Country").
The Bulls joined the rankings following a strong weekend at Lehigh University's Paul Short Invitational, finishing 21st of 44 teams and placing ahead of several regionally ranked teams including UMBC, Bucknell, Central Connecticut, Monmouth and Rutgers. The strong team finish came with personal records and season-best performances for numerous athletes.
Noah Brightman (74th, 24:35.9) and Evan Hilbert (75th, 24:36.4) finished inside the top 75 runners in the field of 366 student-athletes, posting personal record times. Junior Jacob Brink was next to place for the Bulls, taking 139th with a time of 25:00.7. Junior Matt Gensel (183rd, 25:19.0) and sophomore Gabriel Cornfield (213th, 25:30.4) rounded out the Buffalo top-five, with Cornfield posting a personal record time. Freshman Collin Stafford was the sixth Bulls' runner to place, finishing just behind Cornfield with a time of 25:31.4 (217th).
The Buffalo men accomplished the same feat earlier this season at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational, taking 11th of 18 teams and finishing ahead of regionally ranked teams in Monmouth, Lehigh and Bucknell.
"We're making progress," said Men's Distance Coach Todd Witzleben. "We'll keep building. We should be tough to beat when the championship races begin."
The Bulls will next compete on October 19th at the Canisius Alumni Classic, a meet close to home right at Delaware Park in North Buffalo. The first race is set to begin at 12 pm that Saturday.
For all the latest on UB men's and women's cross country, follow the program on X (@UB_XCTF), Instagram (@BullsTFXC), and Facebook ("Buffalo Track & Cross Country").
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