The Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams Both Recognized in this Week's Regional Rankings

Sept. 24, 2007

WASHINGTON - Both the American University men's and women's cross country teams have been featured in this week's Division I Cross Country Regional Rankings, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Monday.

After finishing fifth at the Iona Meet of Champions, the men's team dropped five positions from their original preseason ranking of third. In three meets this season, the Eagles have placed second, fourth and fifth, respectively. Steve Hallinan (Drexel Hill, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) has been AU's top finisher in both meets in which he has competed. At the Navy Invitational, Hallinan placed fourth while running the 12th fastest time in course history. This last weekend, at the Iona MOC, he placed second in the 205-competitor field and was named the AU Student-Athlete of the Week presented by GEICO. Brian McCabe (New Rochelle, N.Y./Fordham Prep) was named the Patriot League's Male Runner of the Week for the week ending Sept. 4 after placing second at the Mount St. Mary's Invite.

The women's team is making its debut in the regional rankings this week, opening at No. 12. The Eagles have competed twice this season, placing first at the Mount St Mary's Invitational and fifth at the Navy Invitational. Kate Lilley (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's) and Cathleen Ford (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall Central) finished one-two in the season's first meet and each ran a new personal best. At the Navy Invitational, Ford was the Eagles' top finisher with Lilley and Greta Wicklund (Kingston, Mass./Sacred Heart) each placing in the meet's top 25.

Both the men's and women's teams will be in action Friday, Sept. 28, as they travel to Manassas, Va., for the George Mason Invitational. Last year, the men's team finished sixth at the meet and the women's team third.