Oct. 29, 2005

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The first two of 21 Atlantic 10 team champions will be crowned on Saturday, Oct. 29 with the running of the 2005 Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, PA.

The 28th annual Men's Cross Country Championship will begin at 10:00am on Belmont Plateau's 8,000-meter course. Saint Joseph's will have to focus on beating out La Salle, who seeks to become the first-ever program to win six consecutive A-10 titles. A-10 newcomers Charlotte and Saint Louis will also look to seize the title away from the Explorers and will be joined in the hunt by Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Temple, and Xavier.

The Hawks had 8 runners compete in last years race. A junior at the time, Joe Mohn posted the fastest time for St. Joe's finishing in 25:52 in 7th place.

The 17th running of the Women's Cross Country Championship will begin at 10:45am. La Salle claimed its third crown in program history in 2004 as it turned aside 2003 champion Richmond, 35-61. Three-time 2004 Performer of the Week selection Cassie Ficken leads A-10 newcomer Charlotte, while Saint Louis and Temple will also compete in their first-ever A-10 Cross Country Championships. Dayton, Fordham, George Washington, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, and Xavier round out the field. The race is 5,000 meters.

Last year, the Hawks had nine runners compete with the fastest time being posted by Colleen Flanagan of 18:31.