Nov. 11, 2006

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pitt cross country teams traveled to Lock Haven University for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. The Panther men finished sixth overall, and the women placed 17th. The top two men's and women's team earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championships along with four individuals on both sides.

Georgetown won the men's competition with 66 points. American placed second with 79 points. Princeton won the women's race with 56 points, and Georgetown took second with 77 points. The Pitt men had 172 points, and the Pitt women had 474 points.

For the third consecutive season, Pitt had two top-35 placewinners at the regional meet. Leading the team was junior Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area/Kent State) in eighth place with a time of 30:38.10. Bair was two runners away from qualifying for nationals. Senior Andy Tomaswick (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands) had one of his best meets to date, finishing in 28th with a time of 31:23.30.

Senior Tim Konoval (Parry Sound, Ontario/Parry Sound/Central Connecticut State) placed 36th with a time of 31:39.30. Fellow senior Eric Fleming (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) took 42nd at 31:52.20, and senior Mike Long (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) ran for a time of 32:21.50 and 58th place.

Pitt's sixth runner was junior Curtis Larimer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer) placed 74th with a time of 32:43.10. Freshman Lane King (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) finished in 149th at 34:58.20.

Leading the Panther women was sophomore Bailey Flask (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) in 66th with a time of 22:16.20. Flask has competed in both of the Panthers' postseason meets this year and has proven to be one of the team's top runners. Just behind her in 74th was sophomore Monica Bhattacharjee (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) with a time of 22:31.40.

Junior Nikki Bielick (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg) finished in 96th with a time of 22:49.80 while senior Suzy Bossart (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg) took 116th at 23:16.10. Pitt sophomores Aly Brown (Hickory, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Rachel Botham (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood) rounded out the top six for the Panthers placing 122nd and 127th, respectively. Brown ran for a time of 23:22.40, and Botham finished in 23:26.50.

This race concluded the season for the Panthers. The men's team will graduate most of its roster while the women's team will return most of its lineup for 2007.