Princeton University Athletics
Cross Country Battles Big Competition on Friday
October 01, 2009 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
PRINCETON, N.J. (10/1/09) - The Princeton men and women's cross country teams resume action on Friday, Oct. 2, competing in two races. The Notre Dame Invitational and the Paul Short Run.
The Notre Dame Invite is significant because a strong finish would secure at-large points necessary to qualify for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, if one of the two auto-bids from the NCAA Regional doesn't go to the Tigers.
The women will be running at 4:15 p.m., in the Blue Division and the men at 5 p.m., in the Blue Division.
Last season, the women tied Florida State for first place. This year, 10 of the top-30 teams will be at the event, including top-ranked Washington. Other teams competing in the 5k include: Arizona, No. 13 Arizona State, Bradley, California Riverside, No. 15 Florida, No. 3 Florida State, Georgia, Houston, No. 25 New Mexico, North Carolina, No. 24 Notre Dame, No. 22 Penn State, No. 12 Providence, No. 27 Rice, Southern Methodist, Southern Utah, UCLA, Utah State and No. 1 Washington.
The Tigers are ranked No. 6 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll this week, moving up one place from last week. Regionally, the team is third behind West Virginia and Villanova.
The men are hoping to improve on last year's finished when they placed 11th out of 25 teams. The men's 8k race will feature six nationally-ranked teams and others including: Arizona, Arizona State, No. 20 Butler, California Riverside, Dayton, Florida, No. 26 Florida State, Fresno State, Georgia, Illinois State, Indiana State, No. 24 New Mexico, North Carolina, No. 28 Notre Dame, Penn State, No. 15 Providence, Southern Illinois, Southern Utah, No. 11 Tulsa, UCLA, Utah State and No. 22 Washington.
The men earned its first national ranking this season, coming in at No. 30 after receiving votes last week. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 in the region, behind Georgetown.
Lehigh will host the Paul Short Run on Friday as well with the races beginning at 10 a.m., through 2:30 p.m.
The men will compete in the 8k Gold Race against 41 other schools at 11 a.m., while the women will have two runners competing.