STONY BROOK, N.Y.-- All nine schools will compete at the 2007 America East Cross Country Championship this Saturday, October 27 on the campus of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y. The women's race will begin at 10:30 a.m., the men's race at 11:30 a.m., and the awards ceremony will be at the finish line tent at approximately 12:30 p.m.
University of New Hampshire won the men's team title in the 2006 meet, while the Boston University women earned their third-straight title a year ago. Each are favored to win again this year according to the preseason coaches' poll.
Maine's Kirby Davis clocked in with the top men's time on his home course in Orono at the 2006 America East Championship. Davis has since graduated, which leaves the men's title up for grabs this year. Albany's Ricardo Estremera (San Juan, Puerto Rico/University) has had a solid senior campaign with several first-place finishes, including one at the Seawolves Invitational earlier this year on the same course as the America East Championship will use. Stony Brook's Brian Farrell (Wicklow Town, Ireland/Abbey Community College) finished third-place at last year's championship, the highest returning finisher from 2006, and can not be counted out to run another strong race.
New Hampshire's Cathy Parker (Westford, Mass./Westford), who will also run in this year's meet, earned the women's individual title by a large margin last year and should vie for the honor again this year. Boston University senior Andrea Walkonen (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) did not run the race last year, but could challenge Parker. Walkonen has not lost stride after the year off, and won the individual title at the New England Championships earlier this month.
For more information on the the course, the University's campus and the Stony Brook, N.Y. area, please follow the links below.
2007 America East Cross Country Championship page at goseawolves.org
Men's Course (PDF)
Women's Course (PDF)
USTFCCCA Division I Championship Central