Oct. 2, 2009

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - With the 2009 cross country campaign already well underway, the Nittany Lions will get their first taste of a national class field on Friday, competing at the Notre Dame Invitational. Both the men's and women's fields include numerous nationally ranked programs, including the No. 1 Washington Huskies, and No. 3 Florida State Seminoles in the women's race, as well as the No. 11 Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the men's competition. The Nittany Lion women enter the meet at No. 22 in the latest USTFCCCA poll, while the Penn State men sit just outside of the national top 30.

The Nittany Lions have been running well throughout the early fall, with the Nittany Lion women taking the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 11, led by an individual victory by senior Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas) and taking second at the Cappy Anderson Invitational at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sept. 19, highlighted by a win from freshman Brooklyne Ridder (Cincinnati, Ohio). The Nittany Lion men placed fourth at the Cappy Anderson Invitational, paced by a fifth-place finish from sophomore Vince McNally (Smoketown, Pa.).

For full results and Nittany Lion recaps, check out www.GoPSUsports.com.

About the Race
Where: South Bend, Ind. (The University of Notre Dame)
When: Friday, October 2
Race Distances: Women - 5K; Men - 8K
Start Times: JV - 3:30 p.m.; Women - 4:15 p.m.; Men - 5:00 p.m.
Host Website: www.UND.com

Competing Teams

Women's Blue Race
Arizona
Arizona State, No. 13
Bradley
UC-Riverside
Florida, No. 15
Florida State, No. 3
Georgia
Houston
New Mexico, No. 25
North Carolina
Notre Dame, No. 24
Penn State, No. 22
Princeton, No. 6
Providence, No. 12
Rice, No. 27
SMU
Southern Utah
UCLA
Utah State
Washington, No. 1

Men's Blue Race
Arizona
Arizona State
Butler, No. 20
UC-Riverside
Dayton
Florida
Florida State, No. 26
Fresno State
Georgia
Illinois State
Indiana State
New Mexico, No. 24
North Carolina
Notre Dame, No. 28
Penn State
Princeton, No. 30
Providence, No. 15
SIU
Southern Utah
Tulsa, No. 11
UCLA
Utah State
Washington, No. 22