AU Cross Country Teams Set to Compete at Paul Short, George Mason Invites This Weekend

Oct. 2, 2008

WASHINGTON - The American University men's and women's cross country teams will compete in two events this weekend. On Friday, Oct. 3, the men's team will face a top national-level field at the Paul Short Run at the Lehigh Cross Country course in Bethlehem, Pa. The following day, Saturday, Oct. 4, the women's team will take on a field led by nationally-ranked Georgetown at the George Mason Invitational at Bull Run Park in Manassas, Va.

The Eagles will be competing for the first time since the Navy Invitational three weeks ago. AU will line up against several national cross country powers, including Iona College and the University of Wisconsin, as well as several Patriot League foes, including Army, Bucknell, and Lehigh in a 46-team field. Senior captain Carlos Jamieson will lead the Eagle harriers onto the starting line. Jamieson was the top finisher for the team at the Navy Invite with a 20th place finish and a time of 26:05.00. He will be joined by fellow senior captain Jacob Shelly, sophomores Jeff Brannigan and Conor Sullivan, and freshman Josh Olsen.

The women's team is also competing for the first time since the Navy Invite and their meet features a much smaller, but solid field that includes nationally-ranked Georgetown and the University of Virginia. The women's team will once again be led into competition by freshman standout Octavia Rinehardt, who has two top ten finishes in her first two races of the season. She will be joined on the starting line by junior Rachel Forcino, sophomores Melissa Tabas and Haleigh Duggan, and fellow freshmen Lauren Scholl, Tara Jakubik, and Caitlin Prichard.

The men's race on Friday is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start while the women's team will start at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday.