Oct. 26, 2006

PITTSBURGH -

The Pitt cross country team is heading to Boston this week for the 2006 Big East Championships. The men compete on Friday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m., and the women will run at 11:50 a.m. The Big East Conference is known to be one of the toughest leagues for distance runners, and the men's and women's teams are entering with high expectations.

Held at Franklin Park, this course is flatter than most and should appeal to several of Pitt's middle distance runners. Pitt has one All-Big East selection returning on the men's side as well as several seasoned runners who are familiar with the championships. On the women's side, the team is still fairly young but the leadership of a few runners has proven beneficial in recent races.

Men's Preview
The Pitt men are looking to make a major statement on the conference level this year. Last season they finished seventh with two runners in the top 35. Leading the team in 2006 will be junior Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area/Kent State). Bair was an all-conference selection last year after finishing in 12th with a time of 24:55.00. He has competed in two races this season, placing eighth at the Paul Short Invitational and 48th at the Pre-National Invitational.

Pitt's other top-35 runner returning this year is senior Tim Konoval (Parry Sound, Ontario/Central Connecticut State). He has remained in the team's top three positions this year and finished 11th at the Paul Short Invitational. Senior Andy Tomaswick (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands) has additionally scored in every meet this season, placing 145th and second among his teammates at the Pre-National Invitational.

Other key contributors will likely be senior Mike Long (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North), senior Steve Gonzalez (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and freshman Lane King (Fairview, Pa./Fairview). Long has been a team leader in several races this year, finishing in the squad's top three in the first three meets. Gonzalez has continued to improve throughout the season and could contribute points this weekend. King has already scored points in two meets as a freshman and has responded well to tough competition this year.

Women's Review
The Panther women are looking to improve upon their eighth-place finish from last year and will rely on two of the team's leading runners to help them score. Junior Nikki Bielick (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) has been Pitt's leading runner in the last two races, placing 11th at the CMU Invitational and 107th at the Paul Short Invitational. Sophomore Monica Bhattacharjee Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) was Pitt's fastest runner in the first two meets and finished second on the squad in the last two races. She placed 15th at the CMU meet and 61st at the Spiked Shoe Invitational.

Other contributing runners will be senior Suzy Bossart (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) and sophomores Aly Brown (Hickory, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Rachel Botham (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood). Bossart finished 23rd at the CMU Invitational and 142nd at the Paul Short Invitational. She also placed 23rd at the CMU Invitational. Brown finished in 49th at the CMU meet and 93rd at the Spiked Shoe Invitational. Botham has scored points in every meet this year, placing 31st at the CMU Invitational and 103rd at the Spiked Shoe Invitational.