Louisville Cross Country Travels to Indiana State Pre-Nationals

The men’s cross country team placed 10th at last year’s meet; Matt Hughes took 12th individually.

 

October 14, 2011

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., this weekend to race at the Indiana State Pre-Nationals Cross Country Meet on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, site of the NCAA Division I Championships. Indiana State will serve as host of the event.

 

The men’s 8K championship race will begin at 11 a.m., and the women’s 6K championship race is set to start at 11:40 a.m.

 

In the men’s race, a total of 35 teams are slated to compete at the event, with eight either ranked or receiving votes in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association top-30 poll. Notable teams on the men’s side include Iona (No. 5), Indiana (No. 7) and Colorado (No. 8). On the women’s side, 40 teams are set to run, with 10 ranked or receiving votes in the national poll. Notable programs on the women’s side feature Florida State (No. 3), Colorado (No. 4) and Georgetown (No. 5).

 

The Louisville men enter the meet following a two-week idle period, having last raced on Oct. 1 at the Greater Louisville Classic. The Cardinals placed second, and sophomore Tyler Byrne – the reigning BIG EAST Male Cross Country Athlete of the Week – won the individual title in 23:47.12. He became only the second Cardinal to win the race after Wesley Korir captured the title in 2004 and 2005. Redshirt junior Gordon Dooley finished second on the team, completing the 8,000-meter course in 25th place.

 

Louisville’s women’s squad at the Greater Louisville Classic was led by freshman Madie Davidson, who took 16th in the 5K course in 17:27.59. She has led the squad in each of its three races. Junior Ariel Briggs finished second on the team, 76th overall, while freshman Michelle Molodynia, who was Louisville’s No. 2 runner in the first two meets, finished third on the team (113th overall).

 

At last year’s Pre-Nationals meet, the men’s team finished 10th out of 35 teams, with now-redshirt senior Matt Hughes leading the team with a 12th-place finish. The women’s team placed 29th out of 40 squads.

 

For all of the latest information on Louisville cross country and track and field, log on to UofLsports.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/louisvilletrack.

 

-ig-

 

For More Information, Contact:

Ira Green, (502) 852-4857

Ira.Green@louisville.edu