BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior Kassidy Manke (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore West) and junior Sembel Koshi (Buffalo, N.Y./Hutch Tech) of the Buffalo State cross country team earned Bengal Athlete of the Week honors on Monday, Sept. 20. The award honors the best two student-athletes in the week ending on Sunday, Sept. 19.

Manke, a dietetics major, earned the honor after winning her first collegiate race this past Saturday, taking down all comers at the Alfred State Gary Moore Cross Country Invitational. She finished the 6-kilometer race in 27:54.99, just under a second ahead of the next competitor. Manke led the way as the Bengals won the event, defeating Keuka, Hilbert, and host Alfred State with a team score of 33.

Koshi, a chemistry major, had a solid performance at 8-kilometers, finishing second at the Alfred State Gary Moore Cross Country Invitational with a time of 30:29.82. The second-place finish is a career-best finish for the junior in an 8-kilometer collegiate race. Koshi led a strong Bengal crew on Saturday, who won the team event, taming Medaille, Hilbert, and host Alfred State with a team score of 30.

Kudos to: Theo Pencic, men's soccer; Samantha Coakley, volleyball