Oct. 15, 2000

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The University of Pittsburgh cross country teams both competed over the weekend, but at different meets. The women's team was at the Red Flash Invitational, placing third, and the men participated in the Wolverine Interregional Invitational, finishing 13th.

As she has done all season, Amanda Schmidt (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) paced the Panthers. The junior registered her fourth top 10 finish of the season, placing 10th with a time of 19:32.3. And for the second consecutive meet, junior Beth Rocks (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) and senior Sarah McMillan (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) turned in solid performances. Rocks was just over three seconds off Schmidt's pace to finish 11th (19:35.6), while McMillan ran 19:38.0 to place 12th. After a 16th-place finish in her previous meet, freshman Dawn Hilgert (Columbia, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) turned in her second top 20 performance, placing 15th with a time of 20:09.5.

The men faced a tough field at the Wolverine Interregional Invitational, including 1999 NCAA Cross Country Championship participants Michigan and James Madison, as well as traditional track powers such as Texas, Florida and Tennessee. Like the women's team, a trio of Panthers continue to lead the way. Senior Mike Head (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) turned in a season-best time of 26:25 to finish 41st. Freshman Mike Diano (Penn Hills, Pa./Penn Hills) and senior Justin Wiley (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Lower Merion) were on each others heels, turning in times of 27:31 and 27:32, respectively.

The Panthers return to action Oct. 27 at the 2000 Big East Championship, held at Franklin Park, Mass.

WOLVERINE INTERREGIONAL INVITATIONAL
Oct. 15, 2000 - ANN ARBOR, MICH.
HOST: Michigan

MEN'S RESULTS
13th of 13 teams with 333 points
41st   Mike Head        26:25
77th   Mike Diano       27:31
78th   Justin Wiley     27:32
82nd   Jesse Chalfant   27:51
89th   Clint Kotuby     29:08
90th   Dan Hull         29:18
93rd   Lucas Dunlap     29:53