Nov. 14, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's and women's cross country teams head across the river tomorrow morning to compete in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals at Princeton University. Competition kicks off at 11:00 AM with the women's 6K race with the men's 10K to follow at noon.
The Explorer men, who are ranked No. 7 in the region, head into regional competition after a fifth place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship on Nov. 1st. Senior Korey Edwards, who ran to a 10th place overall mark at A-10s and an eighth place finish at the Penn State Nationals two weeks prior, looks to again lead the Explorers. Edwards and sophomore Trevon Rainford - a 22nd place finisher two weeks ago - are considered among the top 25 runners in the region to watch.
Freshmen Nick Crits and Tyler Jones are two Explorers to also keep an eye on. Crits clocked a 27th place overall finish two weeks ago and was named the Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Rookie. Jones finished just behind in 28th and is a two-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. Jones is also well-accustomed to the Princeton course, having finished second overall at the Old Nassau Run back in September.
The Explorers will have plenty of competition on their hands tomorrow. The region is power-packed, led by regionally top-ranked Georgetown. The Hoyas, ranked No. 9 nationally, are led by Big East individual champion Andrew Bumbalough, who is favored to win the region as well.
The Explorers must also contend with Princeton, which is ranked No. 2 in the region and enjoys home course advantage tomorrow. Rounding out the top five are Penn State (No. 3 Mid-Atlantic, No. 29 national), city foe Villanova (No. 4) and Duquesne (No. 5).
The Explorer women are also competing in a very tough field. The Explorers were ranked as high as No. 10 in the region earlier this season, but came in 11th in the Atlantic 10 two weeks ago. Rookie Caitlin Storbeck, who did not finish the Atlantic 10 race due to injury, looks to make a splash in the regional. Storbeck has been in the top two of each race this season and was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week in September.
Freshman Stephanie Bearish should also perform for the Explorers. Bearish has also been in the top two in each race this season and was the leading Explorer at the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 37th place finish.
The Explorers must contend with the likes of Ivy League champion Princeton (No. 1 Mid-Atlantic, No. 4 national), Big East champion Villanova (No. 2 Mid-Atlantic, No. 5 national) and Big East runner-up West Virginia (No. 3 Mid-Atlantic, No. 6 national). Rounding out the top five regional teams are Georgetown, which is ranked No. 13 nationally, and Penn State, which is 25th in the nation.
Villanova and West Virginia combined to take the top five spots in the Big East Championship, while Princeton went 1-2-3-5-6 to easily win the Ivy title. The Explorers will contend with Big East individual champion Marie-Louise Asselin of West Virginia, who is favored to win the region.
The top two finishing teams in each region tomorrow earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championship to be held at Indiana State University on Nov. 24th. At-large selections will be announced at a later date, but earn a selection based on head-to-head competition.
