Cavaliers to Compete in NCAA Southeast Regonial

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The Virginia men’s and women’s cross country teams travel to Louisville to compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional on Saturday, November 10. The men’s 10K race will begin at 11 a.m. while the women’s 6K race will start at 12:15. The Virginia men, the reigning ACC Champions, are the top seed in the regional and are ranked ninth nationally.

The women are led by 2006 All-American Emily Harrison, who earned her fourth consecutive All-ACC honor at the ACC Championships. Harrison, the 2007 ACC runner-up who won both the Lou Onesty Invitational and the Roy Griak meet, is a three-time All-Regional honoree who is looking to return to the NCAA meet for the fourth time. She has finished sixth or better in each of her three runs at the Southeast Regional; this season she has finished fourth or better in each race she has run.

The 2007 ACC Champion men’s squad placed four runners in the top six at ACC’s, leading the Cavaliers to the team title, their second in three years. Andy Biladeau, who finished second at the ACC meet, is a three-time All-ACC honoree who just missed All-Regional honors with his 26th place finish in 2006. Jan Foerster, who earned All-American accolades in the steeple in 2006, placed fifth last year at the regional meet as he took home his second consecutive All-Region citation. Ryan Foster, another All-ACC honoree in 2007 is a two-time All-Region selection, while Taylor Smith finished 33rd last year to help the Cavaliers take fourth place and earn the at-large bid to NCAAs. Cavalier rookie Emil Heineking is the 2007 ACC Freshman of the Year after finishing fourth at ACCs.

The top two teams from the regional meets will automatically advance; 13 teams will also earn an at-large bid. Final bids will be announced on Monday, Nov. 12. The NCAA Championships will be held on Nov. 19 at Indiana State University.