Haverford , Pa.-When the starting gun goes off Saturday, Nov. 12 at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship, hosted by DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., the Haverford College men's and women's cross country teams will have one eye on the race course and the other trained toward the west. That's the direction of the national championship meet, held just a week later at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Nov. 19.
The men compete in an eight-kilometer race, while the women run a 6K event.
Just one year ago, the men's team took the regional title and the women placed fourth. In 2011, a top two finish would give either team an automatic qualifying spot to Oshkosh. At-large bids, one of which the women received last year, also would advance either team to nationals.
The No. 1 nationally-ranked Haverford men are going for their second consecutive regional title, after winning the regional meet and eventually the national championship last season. The team's top five runners' scores will count toward the team total, and head coach Tom Donnelly has listed his starting eight. They are: Jordan Schilit, Brian Sokas, Eric Arnold, Andrew Sturner, Peter Kissin, Tim Schoch, Ivo Milic-Strkalt and alternate Faraz Sohail. The Fords are led by two All-American runners in Schilit and Arnold, who were also named to the all-region team last year. Schoch was also an all-region runner in 2010.
"Our team's in good shape and we're coming in trying to win the whole thing," said Donnolly.
The Ford women have finished in the top four at the NCAA mideast regional meet in 10 of the last 11 years. Last season Haverford earned one of three at-large bids. In 2009, the Fords' had their best regional showing to date, a third-place finish. Coach Fran Rizzo lists his eight runners as: Emily Lipman, Emily Scott, Andrea Tocci, Sara Hess, Alice Vienneau, Flora Berklein, Sheera Rosenbaum and alternate Sharon Warner. The Ford's all-American runner, Lipman, finished second in the conference championship this season and was an all-region runner in 2010, placing 16th. Vinneau was also named to the all-region team last season.
"The course is challenging, but we're optimistic," said Rizzo. "Everyone's healthy, which says a lot this late in the season."
The men compete in an eight kilometer race, while the women run a 6K event.