Cavaliers Open Season With Annual Lou Onesty Open Friday

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia cross country teams will open its 2010 seasons on Friday, Sept. 10, at Panorama Farms by hosting the annual Lou Onesty Open. The men’s 8K race is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., and the women’s 5K race will follow at 6:15 p.m.

Virginia’s men’s team earned a No. 22 national ranking by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), collecting 122 points in the preseason poll. The Cavaliers return six of their top-seven competitors from last year’s squad – including 2009 ACC Champion Emil Heineking and ACC runner-up Ryan Collins. Virginia wrapped up last season finishing fifth at the Southeast Region Championships and 15th at NCAAs.

The Cavalier women collected 227 points in the USTFCCA poll to earn a preseason ranking of No. 10. Virginia came in second at the Southeast Region Championship and finished 15th at NCAAs. This season, the Cavaliers return five competitors to the lineup, including All-American and ACC runner-up Catherine White and All-Southeast Region performers Stephanie Garcia and Morgane Gay.

Villanova was picked to win the NCAA women’s title, gathering 360 points in the USTFCCCA poll. Florida State was picked to finish second, coming in with 339 points and Washington ranked third with 337 points. The Seminoles were the top-ranked ACC team in the poll, with Duke coming in second with a No. 6 ranking and the Cavaliers third at No. 10.

Stanford claimed the top spot on the men’s side with 349 points. Oklahoma State was picked to finish second for the second-consecutive year, while Northern Arizona was third. Virginia is the second-ranked ACC team, as NC State pulled in a No. 11 ranking, followed by the Cavaliers at No. 22.

Up next for Virginia will be the Paul Short Invitational on Friday, Oct. 1, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.