Temple University Athletics
Cross Country Takes To Belmont Plateau For A-10s
10.26.07 | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 26, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - The first two of 21 Atlantic 10 team champions will be crowned on Saturday, Oct. 27, with the running of the 2007 Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pa. The Temple men's and women's cross country teams will look to improve upon last season's 13th place showing.
Junior Adin Mickle has led the Owls in every race that he has competed in this fall and will contend for all-conference honors. A bevy of freshmen will comprise the rest of the lineup, including rookies Mike May, Charles Goold, and Ryan Feehery.
The 30th annual Men's Cross Country Championship will begin at 10:00am on Belmont Plateau's 8,000-meter course. Last year, the La Salle men claimed its fifth title over the past six years, turning aside then-defending champion Duquesne, 52-83. Leading the Explorers will be sophomore Matt Mitchell and senior David Alfano, both members of the 2006 Atlantic 10 All-Conference team after finishing 11th and 15th, respectively. Vying for its second title in three years, Duquesne is led by senior Tom Slosky, who finished runner-up last season. In addition, two-time All-Atlantic 10 honoree Mike Andersen of Dayton will be vying to become the program's first-ever individual champion after placing ninth and third the past two years.
Joining Dayton, Duquesne and La Salle in the hunt for the 2007 crown will be Charlotte, Fordham, George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier.
The Temple women have been led by senior Noelle McKenzie and freshman Rebecca Mims. Sophomore transfer Marissa Murtaugh, an all-conference performer at UNC Wilmington, has battled injuries all season but will look to be back running on Saturday.
The 19th annual Women's Cross Country Championship will begin at 10:45 am. La Salle seized its third straight A-10 title last year with 26 points, while runner-up Richmond amassed 81 points. Pacing the Explorers will be senior Rachel Papin, the only female three-time A-10 champion in Conference history. Those seeking to take home the individual crown include two-time A-10 Performers of the Week Christina DeRosa of Massachusetts and Charlotte's Aja Jackson, along with junior Andrea Florida of Saint Joseph's, who has been twice named to the All-Conference team.
Joining Charlotte, La Salle, Massachusetts and Saint Joseph's in the quest for the 2007 title include Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, George Washington, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier.
The Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships are the first two of 21 championships to be held this year - six of which will take place in the fall. The 2007 Field Hockey Championship (Nov. 2-3) will be held at Finnesey Field at Saint Joseph's, while Transamerica Field, on the campus of University of North Carolina-Charlotte, will be the setting for the Women's Soccer Championship (Nov. 8-11). The A-10 Men's Soccer Championship (Nov. 15-18) will be held at Dayton's Baujan Field, and the Women's Volleyball Championship (Nov. 17-18) will take place at Halton Arena on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
