CONCORD, N.C.— The Atlantic 10 Conference will observe a moment of silence prior to the start of tomorrow's 2011 Cross Country Championships in remembrance of former La Salle coach Charles Torpey and University of Rhode Island baseball student-athlete Joseph Paul Ciancola.

Torpey, who passed away this past July, won 16 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors, including 13 in cross country, and led his teams to 15 Atlantic 10 Championships during his illustrious 17-year tenure at La Salle.

In cross country, Torpey's teams captured 13 A-10 Championships. His men's team won four straight from 2001-04 and added titles in 1999, 2006, and 2007. On the women's side, the Explorers won four consecutive championships from 2004-07 and titles in 2001 and 2002.

Nine individual runners captured individual Atlantic 10 Cross Country titles under Torpey's guidance, including five straight women's championships from 2002-06.

His teams have been ranked regionally every year since 1998. He tutored 41 All-District runners, nine NCAA qualifiers and two All-Americans during his remarkable tenure.

Ciancola, passed away Thursday afternoon, Oct. 27, following a medical emergency during a team preseason conditioning workout.

The Cross Country Championships will begin at 10:00 am Saturday at Frank Liske Park in Concord, N.C.