DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton men’s cross country team will compete in the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Cross Country Championship at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 30.
The 33rd annual Men's Cross Country Championship will begin at 9:45 a.m. on the 8,000-meter course. Last year, Dayton posted a program-best, third place finish and program-low 70 points, finishing just behind Saint Joseph's (56) and Massachusetts (67).
“The team is focused on proving that we are 100 percent of the team we can be and improving on the program-best third place finish,” said UD Head Coach Rich Davis. “I think this is going to be a very close race. Dayton, Richmond and UMass are very similar teams with three strong front runners. According to the top times, the three top runners from these teams should be contending for all-conference honors (Top 15).
“Plus, they all have a fourth and fifth that is about a minute behind the third runner,” he added.
UD senior Chris Lemon, last year's A-10 individual champion in 26:13.3, edged out SJU’s Kevin McDonnell who ran the race in 26:13.9. Dayton’s Matt Lemon also earned all-conference honors, finishing ninth in 27:06.1. Greg Roeth earned Rookie of the Year honors for the Flyers after posting a 25th place finish in a time of 27:38 at the A-10 Championship last year.
The Flyers are ranked No. 2 in the final Atlantic 10 Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll, up three spots from No. 5 where they were picked at the beginning of the season.
Richmond, currently ranked No. 1 in the poll, will be anchored by redshirt-seniors Andrew Benford and Matt Llano. Llano edged Chris Lemon at the 2010 Pre-Nationals by 1.5 seconds.
Joining Saint Joseph's, Dayton and Richmond in the quest for the 2010 crown will be Charlotte, Duquesne, Fordham, George Washington, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier.
No current member of the Flyer men’s team has ever competed on the Schlenley Park course, however the team has been training at a course in Sugarcreek with similar layout.
“We will be mentally and physically prepared for this course,” said Davis. “We have been training on a course to simulate Schenley Park that has the same topography and terrain.”
Admission to the Championship is free.
After each race throughout the season Coach Davis hands out two team recognition awards – Tough as Nails, and Team Glue. The Tough as Nails Award goes to the runner who displayed the best physical and mental toughness during the race. The Team Glue Award goes to the runner who, through the course of week, leading up to the race, makes sacrifices and gives encouragement and moral support.
The UD team award winners for the NCAA Pre-Nationals were Greg Roeth for Tough as Nails and Stephen Mackell for Team Glue. Roeth finished as the second Flyer for the first time in his career after lowering his personal best by 26 seconds to 24:29. Mackell led his teammates in the Pre-Nationals open race.
NCAA Pre-Nationals – Oct. 16, 2010
Tough As Nails: Red Shirt Sophomore Greg Roeth
Team Glue: Sophomore Stephen Mackell
All-Ohio Intercollegiate Championships – Oct. 1, 2010
Tough As Nails: Red Shirt Sophomore Greg Roeth
Team Glue: Senior Ryan Shirley
National Catholic Invitational - Sept. 17, 2010
Tough As Nails: Sophomore Jeremy Schiele
Team Glue: Sophomore Kyle Lowry
BGSU Mel Brodt Invitational - Sept. 11, 2010
Tough As Nails: Sophomore Derek Bornhorst
Team Glue: Sophomore Nate Addessi
Flyer 5K - Sept. 4, 2010
Tough As Nails: Sophomore Kyle Lowry
Team Glue: Sophomore Nate Addessi
