Men's Cross Country Southern Conference

Elon Releases 2010 Cross Country Slate

ELON, N.C. - Elon will compete in five regular-season meets, including the second-annual Elon Invitational on September 18, before running at the Southern Conference Championship, according to the schedule released today by head women's cross country coach Christine Engel.
 
The squad will open the season on September 3 at the Covered Bridge Open before hosting the Elon Invitational on September 18.
 
"I am very excited to be hosting a home meet for the second straight year," Engel said. "We had some very positive feedback about the meet and course last year. The Elon Invitational is a great opportunity for our athletes to compete at home and gives the Elon community a chance to watch the team in action."
 
On October 2, part of the Elon squad will get a preview of the NCAA Regional meet as it competes in the Louisville Classic, while others will compete at the Hagan Stone Classic in Greensboro, N.C. On October 15, the Phoenix is scheduled to run in the Royal Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, N.C.
 
Appalachian State is set to host the Southern Conference Championship on October 30. Elon will compete at the NC State meet on October 31.
 
The NCAA Regional will be held November 14 in Louisville, Ky., and the NCAA Championship will follow on November 22.
 
Engel commented, "Our schedule this season will allow us the race on the Southern Conference Championship course and NCAA Regional course prior to those meets. I believe that will help our athletes be better prepared when the two biggest meets of the season arrive."
 
Last season, Engel coached the Phoenix women to a runner-up finish at the 2009 SoCon Championship. Under her guidance, Caitlin Beeler was named to the All-SoCon first team, while Emily Fournier earned a spot on the all-conference second team. Morgan Denecke and Sullivan Parkes rounded out the All-SoCon performances as members of the all-freshman team. The team later went on to place a program-best 20th at the NCAA Regional.
 
On the men's side, Engel helped Matt Richardson to Elon's first-ever All-Southern Conference performance last season. It was also the first time since 1996 that a member of the Elon men's cross country team earned a spot on an all-conference team. Under her guidance, Justin Gianni set new school records in both the 8K and 10K and the team tied its highest finish at the Southern Conference Championship.
 
Following its second-place finish at the conference meet, the women's team earned its first-ever regional ranking, coming in at 15th in the Southeast Region. Both teams were named a U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic team for the fifth time in program history.