Cross Country: WVU Preps for BIG EAST Championship

NetNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University cross country team will compete in the BIG EAST Championships at Van Courtlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 28, at 12:30 p.m. The championships will be televised nationally via tape delay on College Sports Television 9 p.m. on Nov. 13. “The BIG EAST is traditionally the finest distance conference in the nation,” said head coach Sean Cleary. “We are going to New York to determine where exactly our training has progressed from the beginning of this season.” The BIG EAST Championship will feature several of the nation’s top teams. In the latest national polls, five BIG EAST women’s teams were ranked or received votes: No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 16 Providence, No. 29 Marquette, and Georgetown and Villanova also received votes. Providence won the meet in 2004 after Notre Dame won had both the 2002 and 2003 BIG EAST Championships. “I am excited to see the young girls experience their first BIG EAST meet and gain the experience needed for later in their career,” said Cleary. “Susan Davis has run well this year and we are excited to watch her contend for all-BIG EAST honors.” Davis has had three top-10 finishes this season. She looks to join former teammates Megan Metcalfe and Tara Struyk by gaining all-BIG EAST honors. Last year, Davis placed 25th with a time of 21:42 at the BIG EAST meet. Ranked No. 22 in 2004, WVU placed fifth out of 12 teams with 122 points at Franklin Park in Boston. WVU finished seventh at the BIG EAST Championships in 2003.