Cross Country Teams To Face National-Caliber Competition at This Weekend's Penn State National

10/14/2004

Both teams look to earn points toward national qualifying.

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh’s cross country teams look to make a statement this weekend as they travel to the Penn State National on Saturday, October 16. The meet will be run at the Penn State Blue-White Golf Courses with the women’s race, with 34 teams, beginning at 10 a.m. and the men’s race, with 31 teams, following at 11 a.m.

Facing a number of ranked teams from the Big East alone, the men’s team will have a chance to see where it stands not only in the conference, but around the nation. The women’s team will also look to find out its strengths by going against five ranked teams as well, including traditional powers Providence, Villanova, Georgetown, West Virginia and Boston College. Additionally, top 20 programs such as North Carolina and Duke will be running in the race.

Both teams are looking to beat a number of ranked teams in order to earn points toward national qualifying.

Highlighting the women’s team is senior Maureen McCandless, who will see where she stands on the national level as she races against some of the country’s best. McCandless, who captured the top honor at the Duquesne Invitational earlier this year, finished 13^th last season at the NCAA Regional Championships.

Sophomore transfer Tim Konoval looks to continue his early-season success as he will also be racing with a number of national-caliber athletes. Konoval was the top Panther finisher in the last two meets, including a third-place finish at the Duquesne Invitational and a 15^th-place finish at the Great American Cross Country Festival.