Koeppel Leads Cross Country At Toledo

Jenny Koeppel is beginning the 2004 cross-country season much the way she ended her 2003 campaign. She has run in two races this year, winning both.

This time, it was on a course that will hopefully become very familiar to her. The Central Collegiate Meet took place on Saturday at Toledo. This course doubles as the course that will serve as the site of the Mid-American Conference championships, a race held in late October that features the best runners in the MAC.

"It was a very nice race for her, she was very controlled and consistent for the first mile. She ran with the pack, then opened up a nice lead," said head coach Vicki Mitchell.

While Koeppel was the best runner for the Bulls on Saturday, she was not the only top finisher. She was joined in the top 20 by Jen Jezorski, Aleksandra Bykowska and Kelli O'Brien.

Jezorski and Bykowska both had career best finishes in the race. Jezorski finished fourth in the race, with a time of 18:13. Bykowska finished 22 seconds and 11 places behind Jezorski with a time of 18:35.

"Jen Jezorski had a terrific race, it was a personal best for her," said Mitchell.

This is Bykowska's first year here, and that doesn't just mean her first year at UB. This is her first year competing in the United States.

"For her, she's making two big adjustments, it's an adjustment to a different level of competition from high school to college, and it's also an adjustment because of being in a different country. She's from Poland," said Mitchell.

Kelli O'Brien also had a strong race, her second of the year. As a junior college transfer, this is her first year racing with Buffalo.

"It's her first season racing with us, and she really has proven to be a tremendous asset," said Mitchell.

The fact that this race was on what will be the MAC championship course is very important. Koeppel is expected to compete for a top spot in the MAC championships, and it is important for her to know what the track offers.

"With her it's important because she knows she'll be back here to race in the MAC championships," said Mitchell.

As a team, the women finished first overall in the competition. The men took third in the meet, finishing behind Akron and Central Michigan.

Their top finisher was Andy Wigton, who placed eighth in the 10K with a time of 25:41.

"Andy Wigton looked strong and smooth through six or seven kilometers, then in the last 500 meters the pack separated," said Mitchell.

Wigton has been the anchor of the men's team this year.

The Bulls will have a week off before they go to Bethlehem, Pa. to face off against a barrage of teams in the Paul Short invitational.

The team's only race in Buffalo this year, like every year, is the UB Open, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 9 at Beaver Island Park.