NCAA Division I Pre-National Invitational
Site (Host): Terre Haute, Ind. (Indiana State University)
Home Meet Website
Course: LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Times: Men’s 8,000 Meter Championship Race – 11:00 a.m.
Women’s 6,000 Meter Championship Race – 11:40 a.m.
Written by Sam Fell
Athletics Communication Student
The University of Dayton men’s cross country team will compete in their fourth meet of the season in Terre Haute, Ind. at the NCAA Division I Pre-National Invitational this Sunday, Oct. 16.
Indiana State is hosting the Pre-Nationals for the eighth straight year and for the ninth time in the past 10 years. ISU’s LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course is one of the most prolific courses in the country.
Traditionally, the Pre-National Invitational is held on a Saturday, but due to homecoming conflicts at Indiana State, the event was moved to Sunday. Because of the change of date, the amount of teams available to participate dropped from 51 teams to 35 teams. Regardless, the field is still very competitive.
Five of the competing programs are nationally ranked and 23 are regionally ranked.
“This weekend is a very important meet for us. We must run well as a team and use the experience of running well to carry us into the Atlantic-10 Championships next week,” said UD Head Coach Rich Davis. “Other A-10 teams (Xavier and La Salle) will be at the Pre-Nationals and we want to compete with them and prepare for the future. We also want to establish the mental picture of running as a pack and keeping our fifth runner close to the first four.”
Last year, the Flyers finished tied for 21st. UD graduate Chris Lemon led the pack with a 22nd overall finish and a time of 24:06, one second off Dayton’s school record. Current Flyer standout Greg Roeth ran a personal record time of 24:29 and finished 54th in the 8K Blue Race.
After each race of the season, Coach Davis recognizes two runners with Tough as Nails and Team Glue. The Tough as Nails goes to the runner who displayed the best physical and mental toughness during the race and the Team Glue recognition goes to the runner who, through the course of week, leading up to the race, makes sacrifices and gives encouragement and moral support.
After the All-Ohio Meet, Derek Bornhorst earned Tough as Nails and Jeremy Schiele received Team Glue honors.
“Derek ran the seventh-fastest time in the Open Race at the All-Ohio,” said Davis. “Jeremy was instrumental in keeping our top three runners together in the All-Ohio.”
Flyer 5K - Sept. 3, 2011
Tough As Nails: Freshman Matt Fakler
Team Glue: Junior Stephen Mackell
National Catholic Invitational - Sept. 16, 2011
Tough As Nails: Junior Nate Addessi
Team Glue: Junior Kyle Lowry
All-Ohio Intercollegiate Championships – Sept. 30, 2011
Tough As Nails: Junior Derek Bornhorst
Team Glue: Junior Jeremy Schiele
