July 29, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: July 29, 2008 - Following successful campaigns in 2007, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan and the Nittany Lion cross country teams have finalized their 2008 slate, which includes a pair of home meets, as well as road trips to New York City, and Eugene, Ore., all leading up to the Big Ten Championships, hosted by the University of Michigan.
"We're excited to announced our fall schedule," said Sullivan. "We return two seasoned and competitive teams, and we feel that this schedule will accomplish our need to compete at a higher level and provide an opportunity for us to pick up some out of region points. We look forward to hosting our two home meets so many of our fans and alumni will be able to catch us in action."
The Lions begin their fall season with a low key competition at the Lock Haven University, slated for Friday, August 29, at 6 p.m. The Lions rolled at the meet last year, winning both the men's and women's competitions, with
Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio), and
Brian Fuller (Camp Hill, Pa.) providing individual victories. Following a weekend off, the Lions will be back at home, hosting the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational, set for September 13, at 9 a.m. The Penn State women captured the team title at last year's Spiked Shoe with Franek once again coming out on top individually. The Nittany Lion men, led by Fuller in first place, also had a solid effort at home in 2007, posting a second-place finish - just off a solid squad from Columbia.
Next up is the Iona Meet of Championships at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, N.Y., on September 20. The Lion women cleaned up on the historically difficult course in 2007, taking top honors over Northeast powers Cornell and Brown. The Penn State men were also solid in New York, taking third-place overall and bettering regional foes Navy and American. Races are set to begin at 9:45 a.m. New to the schedule in 2008 is the Bill Dellinger Invitational, hosted by the University of Oregon on October 4. The Dellinger Invitational, named for Bill Dellinger, a US Olympian and former Ducks coach, has typically attracted some of the nation's top teams and is one of the most anticipated competitions of the early fall.
The Lions will then head back to the East Coast, hosting the Penn State National on Friday, October 17. Another of the more high-powered competitions of the cross country season, the National meet has drawn the country's top talent, including West Virginia, Oklahoma, Villanova, Tennessee, Duke, Kentucky, and La Salle in 2007. The Lion women took second in a top notch field in 2007, while the provided an outstanding third-place effort.
The Penn State contingent will then hit the postseason trail, beginning with the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., November 1. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, which play a huge role in determining the season's NCAA field, will follow, scheduled for November 15 at Princeton University. The NCAA Championships will cap the season on November 24 at Indiana State. Franek made her second appearance at the national meet in 2007, turning in a 57th-place effort.
2008 Cross Country Schedule
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August 29 | Lock Haven Invitational | Lock Haven, Pa. |
| Sept. 13 | Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational | Blue and White Golf Course |
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Sept. 20 | Iona Meet of Champions | Bronx, N.Y. |
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Oct. 4 | Bill Dellinger Invitational | Eugene, Ore. |
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Oct. 17 | Penn State National | Blue and White Golf Course |
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Nov. 2 | Big Ten Championships | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
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Nov. 15 | NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional | Princeton, N.J. |
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Nov. 24 | NCAA Championships | Terre Haute, Ind. |
