Cavaliers to Host Lou Onesty Invitational

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Sept. 7, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia cross country teams open up their 2007 season as the host the Lou Onesty Invitational this Saturday, Sept. 8, at Panorama Farms. The men’s 8K race will start at 10 am while the women’s 5K race is slated to go off at 10:45.

Ten men’s and seven women’s teams will join the Cavaliers over the trails as Virginia prepares for the ACC meet, which will be held at Panorama Farms on October 27. Conference rivals Wake Forest and Duke will both send their men’s teams, while Wake will also bring a women’s contingent. In-state rivals William & Mary, Radford, Christopher Newport, and Norfolk State will all send both a men’s and women’s team while Hampton George Mason will both compete with a men’s side. North Carolina schools High Point and Mars Hill are also competing with teams in both races.

The Cavaliers, who return the bulk of their top seven from the 2006 teams that finished 14th at the NCAA Championships, also welcome athletes who redshirted last year who are poised to make significant contributions to both sides. The women return two cross country All-Americans in Emily Harrison and Kara Scanlin, while Katie Read earned All-American honors in the 10K in June on the track. Stephanie Garcia redshirted the cross country season in 2006, but in June won the US Junior championship in the steeplechase.

On the men’s side, Jan Foerster earned All-American honors in the steeplechase last year while serving as Virginia’s front runner during cross country season; Andy Biladeau and Taylor Smith both finished in the top 35 at the NCAA Regonal meet last year and are back with Foerster. ACC Champion Ryan Foster is also returning after redshirting in 2006, giving the Cavaliers a solid group up front.

There are over 100 athletes entered in each race; the men have 122 entries while the women’s race features 102 athletes.