University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Cross Country Prepares for Regional Meet
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Nov. 9, 2005
PITTSBURGH - Pitt's cross country team will return to Bethlehem, Pa., this weekend for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet on Saturday, November 12. The Panther men will face nationally-ranked Georgetown (seventh) and American (27th) while the women will be up against Princeton (14th) and Georgetown (27th).
Leading the men's team will be sophomore Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area), who finished second at Lehigh earlier this season and 12th at the Big East Championships. Adding some depth to the line up will be junior Tim Konoval (Parry Sound, Ontario/Central Connecticut State), junior Mike Long (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North), junior Steve Gonzalez (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop), sophomore Curtis Larimer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer) and junior Jesse Mang (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park). The men's team is coming off a seventh-place finish at the Big East Championships earlier this season, despite running with only a six-man roster.
On the women's side, look for strong finishes from senior Nicki Angstadt (Kutztown, Pa./Fleetwood) and Ali Briggs (Washington, Pa./Washington). Angstadt posted a top-20 finish at the Big East Championships and Briggs has consistently been one of the team's top-three runners this season. Also in the line up will be junior Suzy Bossart (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem), senior Abby Zaylor (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin), freshman Monica Bhattacharjee (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield), Candice Coholich (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) and Rachel Botham (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood). The women's team finished eighth at the Big East Championships with three runners in the top 55.
Despite a number of injuries throughout the season, the Panthers have stayed positive and are ready for the challenges of this weekend's competition. "This meet is part of the championship season that we train for all season long. Our goals are to be in the top 10 in the region on both sides," said assistant coach James Trautmann. "Due to the loss of so many of our top runners on both sides, we have not been ranked in the top 10 on either side all season. Our goals are higher when we have everyone healthy and they will be much higher next year. Each individual getting done what he or she should be doing this year will prepare us further for the future."
The men's race is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the women's race will begin at 12:15 a.m.
NOTE: Panther fans can watch Bair and Angstadt turn in top finishes as the Big East Championships will air via tape-delay on CSTV this Sunday, November 13, at 9 p.m.
