Koch Takes Third As Falcons Compete At UB Stampede Invite

Saturday, September 15

Buffalo, N.Y.

12:00 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

Buffalo Stampede Invitational

September 15, 2012 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

By: by BGSU Athletic Communications

Men Overall | Men Team
Women Overall | Women Team

BUFFALO, N.Y.—The Bowling Green State University women's cross country team earned a second place finish at the University at Buffalo Stampede Invitational Saturday, while the men placed fifth.

Redshirt junior Abby Koch paced the women with a time of 18:03.09 in the 5K race, giving her a third place overall finish. Senior Josh Franek recorded the lowest time for the men, placing 21^st overall with a time of 26:00.7 in the 8K run.

The women placed second out of five teams, collecting a team score of 59, and a cumulative time of 1:32:12.15. The Falcons edged out MAC for Buffalo, who took third with a collective score of 68, and a time of 1:32:45.7. Akron took the top spot with a team score of 20, and a time of 1:30:15.2. Robert Morris and Niagara finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Koch's time of 18:03.09 set a new personal best for the Stow, Ohio native, edging out her time of 18:07 at the Mel Brodt Invitational in 2010. Redshirt freshmen Jasmine Redman and Andrea Alt also earned top-10 finishes, placing ninth and 10^th, respectively. Redman's time of 18:12.4, and Alt's time of 18:15.8 also set new career bests, crushing their previous lows of 19:55.20 (Redman) and 19:14.90 (Alt) set at the Mel Brodt Invitational two weeks ago. Not to be out done, sophomore Kendra Kezur (18:18.8) and Redshirt freshman Megan Monte (19:21.5) also set career lows in the 5K, with Kezur earning a 12^th place finish. Monte rounded out the Falcons' top five finishers, placing 25^th.

Senior Taylor Stichter (19:34.8) and sophomore Caitlin Flack (20:16.8) also recorded personal bests, despite placing outside of Bowling Green's top five.

The men took the fifth spot in their 8K run, earning a team score of 119, and a cumulative time of 2:12:26.1. Host Buffalo took first, followed by Akron, Colgate and Robert Morris, with Niagara finishing in last place.

Franek's time of 26:00.7 set a new personal best for the Hiram, Ohio native, edging out his 8K time (26:05) at the MAC Championships last season. The Stampede marked Franek's first race of the season after sitting out the Mel Brodt Collegiate opener. Freshman Tim Jurick finished his first collegiate 8K in 26:01, placing 18^th. Freshman Brian Coleman (26:22.5) finished in 23^rd place, while junior Joe vanBolderon set a new career best with a time of 26:34.8, placing 26^th. Junior Perry Fraylick rounded out the Falcons' top five, with a time 27:27.8, also a career best.

“Our top four did a great job working together," said head coach Lou Snelling when asked about the women. “Abby (Koch) was two off of the win, we would like to see more moves from her mid-race to put her in a better spot to be able to win. When we come back in the next two weeks we'll hopefully see those moves happen. I am really happy, it was another solid race; I feel we were able to take that next step. The guys were also solid in their top four. They made a nice step for the start of the year.”

The Falcons are back in action Sept. 29 at the All-Ohio Championships.