University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Women's Cross Country Takes On CMU Invitational
10/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
| CMU Invitational | |||
| Date | Saturday, October 11 | W: 10:00 a.m. | ||
| Location | Schenley Park / Pittsburgh, Pa. | ||
| Television | N/A | ||
| Radio | N/A | ||
| Online | N/A | ||
| Game Notes / Stats | 2014 Results | ||
| Promotions | N/A | ||
| Social Media | @PittTFandXC - Twitter / Facebook | ||
PITTSBURGH - While the men's team and the top runners on the women's side rest this weekend, 30 other University of Pittsburgh women's runners will have the opportunity to race at the Carnegie Mellon University Invitational at Schenley Park on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Competing with nearly all of the same runners as last year at the Notre Dame Invitational, the women improved their finish by six places - from 10th to fourth - while the men also had a better showing, grabbing seventh place this year after an 11th place showing in 2013.
Junior Hillary Boxheimer ran to her second top-10 finish of the year, coming in eighth place in a time of 17:08.3. The men were led by junior Michael Runco, who was the top-male Panthers finisher for the first time all year. He was 12th in a time of 24:32.6.
VLASIC VOTED ECAC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK…AGAIN
For the second time this season, freshman Melanie Vlasic earned the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I Rookie of the Week, the organization announced on Wednesday, Oct. 8. She also held the distinction back on Sept. 18.
It is the fourth time a Pitt runner has been individually recognized for their performance on the course. During the first week of competition, senior Cullen Davis was honored as the Atlantic Coast Conference men's cross country Performer of the Week, while freshman Beth Shenck was awarded Eastern College Athletic Conference women's cross country Division I Co-Rookie of the Week, based on their performances at the UB Stampede Invite.
TEAM TITLES AND INDIVIDUALS CHAMPS
Pitt has fielded a total of 11 teams spread across six races this season, grabbing the team title in six of the events. Additionally, three Panthers runners, all on the men's side, have won races this year. They are Cullen Davis (UB Stampede Invite), Matt Kazanjian (SHU Griffin Classic) and Aaron Lauer (St. Vincent Invitational).
Coming into the season, Pitt runners placed first a combined three times since 2009. Since the turn of the century, no Pitt cross country team has had more than two first place finishers in a single season until this year.
PROGRAM-BEST REGIONAL RANKINGS RELEASED
Three weeks ago when the USTFCCCA released its regional rankings, the Pitt cross country program had both men's and women's teams ranked for the first time since at least 2009, which is how far back the organization's records go.
Since then, both teams have held steady in their respective spots. For the past three weeks the women topped out at a program-best ranking of seventh while the men were 13th in each of the last three polls, which matched the highest ranking in school history.
Currently, the women are 10th in the Mid-Atlantic region and the men are hanging on at 15th.
LAST YEAR AT CMU
Pitt's women's team has competed at the CMU Invitational every year since 2007. In 2013, the squad had their best showing in the event during the stretch with a fifth place showing among 19 total teams. Audrey Burger was the first Panthers runner to complete the course in a time of 19:57.4, good for 28th place.
UP NEXT
With hopes of gaining a bid to this year's NCAA Championship, Pitt will preview the Nationals course when it travels to Terre Haute Ind. for the ISU Pre-Nationals Invitational.
