Nov. 11, 2005

Washington, DC - The Georgetown University men's and women's cross country teams will participate in the 2005 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional this Saturday, November 12 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional is a qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championship, which will take place on Monday, November 21 on the campus of Indiana State University. The top two teams from each regional meet, nine in all, will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. The full 31 team field for the Cross Country Championship, including the 13 at-large bids, will be announced by the NCAA on Sunday, November 13.

The Hoya men, who are the reigning Mid-Atlantic Region champions, are currently ranked seventh in the country in the latest Mondo national poll. Among the competition for the men will be American University, ranked 27th currently, and Princeton and Duquesne who have been receiving votes in the national polls. The Hoyas will look to sophomore Matt Debole (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. Tabor) and senior Fleet Hower (Marion, Va./Marion) to defend their title, as they are both coming off strong performances at the BIG EAST Championship. Debole set a Georgetown school record at the conference championship with his 24:13 time and third place finish. Hower took fourth at the BIG EAST and set a personal record with a 24:20 mark.

For the Hoya women, who are currently ranked 27th in the FinishLynx national poll, the competition will com from 14th-ranked Princeton and Pennsylvania, who is receiving votes. Sophomore Maggie Infeld (University Heights, Ohio/Beaumont) and junior Liz Maloy (Loudonville, N.Y./Holy Name) will be depended on to pace the Georgetown attack. Infeld took 10th at the BIG EAST, and won the Paul Short Invitational earlier in the year. Maloy earned All-BIG EAST honors, placing sixth in the field of 126 with a time of 21:06.