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In the event of too much rain overnight, the Lou Onesty Invitational may be canceled due to flooding at the Farms. A decision will be made at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning as to the status of the meet. In the event that the meet is canceled or postponed, complete details will be posted immediately to www.VirginiaSports.com.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.
– The Virginia cross country teams open up the 2008 season as the host of the Lou Onesty Invitational this Saturday, Sept. 8, at Panorama Farms. The men’s 8K race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., while the women’s 5K race is slated to go off at 10:45 a.m.

“This is the first opportunity for our cross country team to compete,” Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Jason Vigilante said. “I understand that it’s early in the season and we have about 12 weeks before the national championships, so what we hope to do for this competition is to remain healthy while we gather some experience for races that come later in the season.”

Five men’s and three women’s teams, with a total of 116 runners, will compete on the trails as Virginia prepares for the Atlantic Coast Conference meet, which will be held in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Nov. 1. Conference rival Duke is sending a men’s team, while in-state rivals George Mason, Norfolk and William & Mary also have teams competing for the men. George Mason and William & Mary are also competing on the women’s side.

The Cavalier men, who won the 2007 ACC Championship, return four of the seven athletes that finished last season with a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships. Sixth-year Ryan Foster who finished seventh at this meet last year, and third at the ACC Championships, looks to lead a young squad on the trails.

The women’s squad narrowly missed a berth to the NCAA Championships last season, but returns four of the seven runners that competed at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships. With All-American Katie Read leading the group, the Cavaliers look to be in the hunt for national recognition.

Both squads welcome first-years, and athletes who redshirted a year ago, who are poised to make significant contributions to both sides.

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