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Sept. 22, 2005
After winning their opening competition of the season, the Virginia men’s and women’s cross country teams travel to Cary, NC to compete in the Great American Cross Country Festival on Saturday, Sep 24. Both squads are ranked just outside the top-30, and will look to make strides at this event to jump into the national polls. Both squads feature NCAA qualifiers from the 2004 season who are back to lead both teams to the NCAA championships.
The Virginia women, who were ranked 20th in the preseason, have fallen out of the poll despite their convincing win in their only competition this season. They will look to a strong pack of athletes, led by NCAA qualifier Emily Harrison, to make noise at the Nike Race of Champions, which will start at 10:55 on Saturday morning at the SAS Park. Top-ranked Duke is also in the field, along with fellow ACC rival #8 NCSU. #6 BYU and #21 Georgia are also competing in the race. Harrison is undefeated on the season after winning the Lou Onesty Invitational by a wide margin. The UVa harriers feature All-Regional performers Harrison, Kara Scanlin, and Shannon Hawyrlo, along with newcomer Lauretta Dezubay, who finished seventh in her inaugural race as a collegiate harrier. Teammate Kristin Milot joined them in the top-10 in the opening meet, giving the Hoos a solid pack.
On the men’s side, Soeren Lindner, who took home runner-up honors at the Lou Onesty Invitational, will lead the men against a field that includes #16 William & Mary and #18 NC State. Lindner edged teammate Andrew Dumm by .43 seconds and first-year Andy Biladeau by 2.84 seconds as the triumvirate went 2-3-4 in the opening meet, giving the Cavaliers a strong pack that will make an impact at the Festival. The men’s race starts at 9:55.