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The Slippery Rock men's and Women's cross country teams will be hosting the 2011 NCAA Division-II Atlantic Regional meet on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Cooper's Lake Campground.
This season, the Slippery Rock men's cross country team has had great success, most recently on Oct. 22 at the PSAC championship where they took fifth place.
Junior Alex Koksal, and sophomores Travis Arrigoni and Morgan Elliott finished in the top 20 overall at the PSACs, which gave the three runners All-PSAC honors. Arrigoni finished in ninth place with a time of 25:10, Elliott finished 15th with a time of 25:25, and Koksal finished 18th with a time of 25:31.
Rounding out the top five Slippery Rock runners were sophomore Michael Beegle who placed 24th, and junior Eric Geddis who finished 26th overall. This pack of five runners all crossed the finish line within the same minute of each other, ending the 8000-meter race in under 26 minutes.
The Slippery Rock women's cross country team also performed well at the PSAC championships, taking home sixth place. Sophomore Stephanie Case earned All-PSAC honors by finishing seventh overall with a time of 21:24.
Case was followed by juniors Abby Michaelian and Kara Styles, stand-out freshman Janine Powis, and senior Caitlin Hancox, who all finished the 6000 meter race in under 23 minutes.
Last year, at the 2010 NCAA Division II regionals, the Slippery Rock women took home third place and the men's team took fourth place.
Case, Michaelian, Styles, Powis, Hancox, along with junior Becky Belding, and freshman Angie Bagwell will be competing for the Slippery Rock women on Saturday in the Regional.
Arrigoni, Koskal, Elliott, Beegle, Geddis, as well as junior Buddy Clements, and freshman Chris Grooms will be competing in the regional event for the men.
Case said they plan to use the course to their advantage on Saturday.
"It's our home course and we know it better than everyone else," Case said. "I think everyone will do well. I'm hoping to go out and give it my best. Hopefully that's enough to get it done."
If either the men's or women's team finish in the top three on Saturday, they will qualify for the national meet on Nov. 19 in Spokane, Washington.
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