Cavaliers Open Season With Annual Lou Onesty Open Friday

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia cross country teams will open its 2011 seasons on Friday, Sept. 9, at Panorama Farms by hosting the 11th 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.

The UVa men finished the 2010 event No. 2, trailing only Norfolk State. The UVa women won the 2010 event with a perfect score of 15 points.

Virginia’s men’s team earned a No. 19 national ranking by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), collecting 134 points in the preseason poll. The Cavaliers return five of their top-seven competitors from last year’s squad. Virginia wrapped up last season finishing sixth at the Southeast Region Championships and 17th at NCAAs.

The Cavalier women collected 144 points in the USTFCCA poll to earn a preseason ranking of No. 17. Virginia came in first at the Southeast Region Championship and finished 21st at NCAAs. This season, the Cavaliers return six competitors to the lineup, including All-American and 2009 ACC runner-up Catherine White and All-Southeast Region performer Morgane Gay.

Georgetown was picked to win the NCAA women’s title, gathering 358 points in the USTFCCCA poll. New Mexico was picked to finish second, coming in with 334 points, and Providence ranked third with 333 points. The Seminoles were the top-ranked ACC team in the poll at No. 6, with Duke coming in second with a No. 9 ranking, North Carolina third at No. 12, and the Cavaliers fourth at No. 17.

Oklahoma State claimed the top spot on the men’s side with 357 points. Stanford was picked to finish second, while Wisconsin was third. Virginia is the third-ranked ACC team, as Florida State pulled in a No. 8 ranking and NC State at No. 13, followed by the Cavaliers at No. 19.

Up next for Virginia will be the Paul Short Invitational on Friday, Sep. 30, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.