Oct. 30, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The men's and women's cross country squads are set to take on the BIG EAST in the conference championships on Friday, Oct. 31 at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y. The women will run a 6,000 meter race beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's 8,000 meter race at 11:10 a.m.

The No. 6 ranked women's team will face tough competition with three other conference squads ranked in the national poll. West Virginia is the top-ranked team in the league, coming in at No. 5, Georgetown is ranked 11th and Providence is No. 24 in the women's poll. West Virginia won the women's race last year and will look to defend its title.

The Wildcats will feel at home at Van Cortlandt Park where the women have captured the team title four of the 11 times the BIG EAST Championship has been held there.

The Villanova men will also face tough competition on the course. In the latest USTFCCCA coaches poll, the men received votes, but were unranked. Two conference opponents are currently ranked as Georgetown is No. 10 and Providence is No. 27. Louisville won the men's team title last season, but all four of the Cardinals' top-10 finishers are gone this season. Former Wildcat, Bobby Curtis, took home the men's individual title.

For results visit www.bigeast.org