University at Buffalo cross country competed at Lehigh University’s Paul Short Invitational on Friday, placing ahead of regional competition with several personal record performances.
On the men’s side, senior Jacob Brink finished 87th of 344 runners and the top finisher for Buffalo men in the gold 8K with a collegiate personal record of 24:20.7. Senior Noah Brightman placed 112th at 24.36.1, slightly ahead of junior Cameron Bogdan, who placed 120th with a time of 24:38.2. The two were followed by senior Matt Genesel at 137th with a time of 24:46.4 and sophomore Collin Stafford, who finished 157th in 24:53.1 to round out the Bulls’ top five. Genesel and Stafford also broke their collegiate personal records, helping the Bulls place ahead of six ranked programs in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Sixth ranked University of Pennsylvania. They also finished ahead of six teams in the Northeast region.
In the gold 6K, two runners finished with collegiate personal records. Sophomore Aidan Norris finished 187th at 25:07.9 and sophomore Connor Domoy placed 236th finishing in 25:28.6.
On the women’s side, Senior Bronagh Cassidy took 14th of 322 runners with a personal best 21:22.7, top finisher for the Buffalo women in the brown 6K. Senior Vassi Klock also finished within the top 20, placing 18th with a personal best 21:59.5. The Bulls’ top five concluded with graduate student Jacquie Appenheimer finishing 48th at 22:03.0, freshman Fiona Klingbell finishing 67th with a speed of 22:20.7 and senior Brianna Urban finishing 68th at 22:22.1, placing them ahead of 15 Northeast region opponents.
Junior Megan Smith finished 45th of 442 with a collegiate personal record of 22:22.6 in the women’s open 6K. Sophomore Sophie Brettholtz placed 124th with 23:11.7, junior Reese Wilber finished 150th with a time of 23:25.1, junior Kaitlyn Edinger finished 160th at 23:31.1, sophomore Ella Reilly finished 175th with 23:38.1 and sophomore Samatha Moury finished 180th in 23:40.7, to top off the pack, all finishing within the top 200.
Breaking their collegiate personal records, graduate student Allison Newton placed 91st in 22:36.5, sophomore Ciena Ferguson finished 100th with a time of 22:40.2) and senior Lexi Bernard placed 190th finishing in 22:36.3.
The Paul Short Invitational proved the Bulls are capable of beating ranked opponents as they fight for a ranking themselves in the seasons to come. They look to continue breaking their personal records next at the Princeton Fall Classic in Princeton, New Jersey on Friday, October 17.
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