Cross Country Prepped for NCAA Regionals

Friday, November 10

Bethlehem, PA

12 p.m.

George Washington University

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

11/8/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Track/Cross Country, Women's Track/Cross Country

WASHINGTON – Following a solid showing at the A-10 Championships, the George Washington men's and women's cross country teams are set to compete in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet this Friday. The meet is hosted by Lehigh University and has a start time of 12 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Two weeks ago, GW put together a solid overall performance at the A-10 Championships. The meet was hosted in Cedarville, Ohio, with Dayton serving as the host school. In the men's 8K race, the Buff & Blue finished in fifth place, the second-straight season with at least a top-five finish. After a brief weather delay halted the start of the event, grad student Ryan Fowkes paced the men's team with a time of 24:42.53 to finish 20^th as an individual. Behind Fowkes was senior Kevin Conlon with a 24:46.01 to place 23^rd, and sophomore Jacob Heredia with a 25:02.15 for 40^th. Loyola Chicago captured the men's title, its second championship in as many years since joining the A-10.

Following the men's race, GW put together an outstanding showing in the women's 6K. The Revolutionaries recorded a second-place finish out of the 15-team field, marking the fifth-consecutive year the GW women have finished in the top four of the conference meet. Leading the way was all-conference performer Sarah Mitchell with a 21:16.61 for seventh place. Mitchell now has back-to-back all-conference awards in cross country after finishing 14^th in last year's race. Behind Mitchell, junior Olivia Syftestad notched a 21:51.96 for 20^th, while sophomore Una Boylan recorded a new PR with a 21:52.03 for 21^st. Loyola Chicago also won the team crown for the women, making a clean sweep between both the men's and women's races.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
In the most recent USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings, GW's men's and women's teams both landed in the top 10. The men ranked as the 10^th-best team in the region, one spot up from its previous spot in 11^th. The women also moved up one spot from the previous poll, clocking in at ninth. Both polls were released on Oct. 30 following the conclusion of conference meets across the country. These are the last set of rankings before the final regional ranking list is announced on Nov. 10 to cap the 2023 season.

NCAA REGIONAL MEET
The 2023 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional cross country meet will be held at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course in Bethlehem, Pa. The women's 6K race has a scheduled start time of 12 p.m., while the men's race will kick-off at 1 p.m. Villanova is the reigning men's champion from last year's regional, while Georgetown took the team title in last season's women's race. GW previously raced the host course this season, competing in the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh. In that race, the GW men finished third out of 47 teams, while the women placed 24^th out of 44.

For spectators planning to attend the event, a $10 parking fee will be charge on-site per vehicle. Tickets will be available at a booth near the parking area. Cost of admission is $10 per adult and &5 for children. One ticket will be valid for both the men's and women's race.