UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 8, 2006 - The Penn State men¡¯s and women¡¯s cross country teams travel to Lock Haven, Pa. for the 2006 NCAA Division I Mid Atlantic Regional Championships Saturday, November 11. The Mid Atlantic Regional decides which athletes go on to compete on the national level at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Bucknell University is hosting the Mid Atlantic Regional at the West Branch Cross Country Course at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa. The women¡¯s 6K race begins at 11 a.m., followed by the men¡¯s 10K race at 12:15 p.m. The regional will end with the awards ceremony at 2 p.m.

The Penn State women¡¯s cross country team finished eighth overall at the 2006 Big Ten Championships in Bloomington, Ind. After a phenomenal season, the women¡¯s cross country team is ready for the regional and national level. Freshman Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) led the way, capturing a 17th place finish, just shy of All-Big Ten status. In addition, Franek was the third-fastest freshman in the field, clocking a time of 21:16, a new personal best for the rookie. Freshman Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas) was Penn State¡¯s second finisher, claiming 41st place in 22:23. Sonja Hinish (Williamsburg, Pa.) finished third for the team and 53 rd overall, with a solid effort of 22:46. Fellow runners, Jessica Babcock (Irvine, Pa.) and Molly Ritter (Arendtsville, Pa.) rounded out the day for the women. Sophomores Claire Percival (Sarnia, Ont.) and Janelle Young (Lemoyne, Pa.) will vie for a spot on the national level as well. Megan Noecker (Reading, Pa.) will run as an alternate.

The Penn State men¡¯s cross country team finished ninth overall at the Big Ten Championships with senior All-American Dan Mazzocco (Pittsburgh, Pa.) taking 15th in the 8K with a time 24:56. Mazzocco was joined in the scoring by sophomore Tyler McCandless (Northampton, Pa.), who put up a 45th place time of 25:45 in his first Big Ten competition. He was followed by senior Chris Nirschel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Teddy Quinn (Rush, N.Y.), who placed 48th and 49th with times of 25:53 and 25:56, respectively. Junior Mike Syrnick (Philadelphia, Pa.) rounded out the scoring for the Nittany Lions. Sophomores John Mahoney (Richboro, Pa.) and Dennis O¡¯Connor (Philadelphia, Pa.) will also be in attendance Saturday, running for a chance to compete on the national level. Freshman Dennis Pollow (Ransomville, N.Y.) will run as an alternate.

Results will be posted as they become available. For more information on the regional, please visit the following Web site dedicated to the NCAA regional, http://www.lhup.edu/xcountry/2006division1midatlanticxc.htm.