Ten Cavaliers Named to ACC 50th Anniversary Women's Cross Country Team

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July 31, 2002

Greensboro, NC – The Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Women’s Cross Country Team was announced today by Commissioner John Swofford. The 50-member team was voted on by the nine league institutions as decided by the league’ s 50th Anniversary Committee. The University of Virginia placed ten athletes on the team, including six members of the 1981-82 cross country dynasty that won the first two NCAA cross country national championships and the TAC national championship. Jill Haworth, Aileen O’Connor, Marisa Schmitt, Dana Slater, Lesley Welch and Lisa Welch were all named to the 50th Anniversary team, as well as Margaret Groos, Virginia’s first world record holder, and All-Americans Patty Matava, Claire Forbes, and Jennifer Owens.

Virginia’s honorees on the ACC 50th Anniversary Women’s Cross Country team:

Claire Forbes (1990-93)
Two time All-American in 1992 (3,000m (I,O))…Two time ACC Outdoor Champion in the 1,500m (1990,1991), 3,000m (1990, 1992), and three time ACC Outdoor Champion in the 5,000m (1990,1991, 1992)…ACC Indoor Champion in the Mile (1990) and 3,000m (1992)…ACC Performer of the Meet (1990,1992)

Patty Matava (1984-87)
Three time All American in Cross Country (1985, 1986, 1987), All American in the 5,000m (O) (1988)…Two time ACC Outdoor Champion in the 5,000m (1984, 1987)…Holds UVA Outdoor record for 10,000m (32:58.64,1987)

Margaret Groos (1977-80)
Two time All-American in Cross Country (1978,1979), All-American (1,500m (O),1979)…Holds UVA Outdoor record for the 5,000m (15:51.24, 1980), 3,000m (9:07.84, 1979)…Holds UVA Indoor record for 3,200m (9:52.24, 1980) and 5,000m (15:34.74,1981)

Aileen O’Connor (1979-82)
Three time All-American in Cross Country (1979,1980, 1981), All-American (1981-5,000m (I), 10,000m (O), 1982-Two Mile (I), 10,000m), Member of the 1981 and 1982 National Championship Cross Country Team…National Champion in 5,000m (1979) and 10,000m (1979)

Jennifer Owens (1998-01)Two time All-American in Cross Country (1999, 2001)

Jill Haworth (1980-83)
Nine time All-American (1980-DMR (I), 1981-DMR (I),4x800m(I), 1,400m (O),Cross Country, 1982-DMR(I), One Mile (I), 1,500m (O), Cross Country…National Champion1,500m (I) (1981)…Member of National Championship Cross Country Team (1981,1982)

Dana Slater (1979-82)
Named All-American in Cross Country (1982)…Member National Championship Cross Country Team (1981,1982)

Marisa Schmitt (1979-1982)
Two time All-American in Cross Country (1981,1982), All-American in 4×800 (I) (1981), Mile (I) (1982)…Member National Championship Cross Country Team (1981,1982)

Lisa Welch (1980-1982)
Two time All-American (Cross Country-1981, DMR (I)-1982)…Member National Championship Cross Country Team (1981,1982)

Lesley Welch (1980-82)
All-American (1981-Cross Country, 1982-DMR (I), Three Mile (I), 3,00m (I), Cross Country)…National Champion in Cross Country (1982), Member National Championship Cross Country Team (1981, 1982)

The ACC will release the members of each of the championship sports throughout the fall.