June 11, 2012

Over the course of the next six weeks we will be counting down the Top 12 stories of the 2011-12 year.  Each Monday and Thursday we will reveal a new story, until we reach the top moment, which will be unveiled in mid July.

 

The University at Buffalo men's cross country team had its best season in 2011, notching career bests at the Mid-American Conference Championships and the NCAA Northeast Regionals, which was hosted by Buffalo.

The Bulls were regionally-ranked for the majority of the season by the USTFCCCA, entering the rankings in Week Four and climbing as high as 13th in the region.

UB turned in its best performance in school history at the MAC Championships as it took third of nine schools.  Both John Inzina and Mike Pressler earned second-team All-MAC honors as Inzina led the way for the Bulls in the meet with an eighth place finish.

At the time of the race, here is what head coach Vicki Mitchell said of her team's performance, "The men ran a very strong race. John Inzina has proven he is a MAC competitor. He rises above at every MAC Championship, whether it be cross country or track. Mike Pressler had his breakthrough MAC meet and Dylan Conway showed his leadership that has brought the team along this season with his highest place ever at the MAC Championships. We are extremely proud of the men's performance. It was a true team effort."

The Bulls continued to impress at the Northeast Regionals, which was ran at the Audubon Golf Course in Amherst, NY.  Buffalo placed seventh in the 33-team field as the Bulls had four runners finish in the top 40 with Pressler finishing 28th, a team best.

Coach Mitchell summed up the men's performance at the meet by saying, ""I am so proud of our men's team for finishing seventh and setting school history. To have four guys in the top 40 just speaks to the hard work they put in, especially our seniors."