Several Squads Vie for Team Titles

SALEM, Va. --- The ODAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships kick-off the league's championship season on Saturday as runners from each of the competition ODAC schools take to Mowles Spring Park in Salem, Virginia.  Lynchburg College enters having performed strong throughout the season amongst both the men's and women's ranks.  Virginia Wesleyan College, Bridgewater College and Washington and Lee University will provide plenty of fight on the men's side, as will the WLU, BC and Roanoke College in the women's race.

Lynchburg's Ricky Flynn enters the competition as the favorite to claim his third ODAC individual title.  Flynn, an All-American performer in track as well as cross country, owns the league's top eight-kilometer time this season.  Teammate Ryan Van Alstine sits just behind him in the top times lists, providing Lynchburg with a chance to claim the top two individual finishes.

Virginia Wesleyan is one of four ODAC men's squads (joined by LC, BC and WLU) ranked in the South/Southeast Region by the USTFCCCA (www.ustfccca.com).  Sean Whitson and Seth Cunningham have both had strong campaigns, posting times within the top-10 in the ODAC.

Washington and Lee brings a deep squad to Salem, led by Robert Warneford-Thomson and Harrison Tucker.  Look for the two of them to spearhead a solid effort from the Generals.

Bridgewater enters with freshman Jordan White leading the charge.  He won four races in his first collegiate season, proving his ability to lead a pack of runners.

The Lynchburg women, which are joined by Washington and Lee and Roanoke in the USTFCCCA South/Southeast Region rankings, own the top two individual times in six-kilometer events this season.  Jennie Pernisi, winner of the Blue Ridge Open at Appalachian State University, and Ashley Meyer look to repeat as All-ODAC First Team runners.

The Generals may be without the 2008 top two finishers, but the stable is far from bare.  Kat Telfeyan leads a rebuilt squad to the Roanoke Valley as she looks to improve upon last year's All-ODAC Second Team finish.  She'll be joined by Lauren Schultz and former first team runner, Dorothy Todd.

Roanoke features several strong runners including Maggie Moore and Caroline Casey.  Both ran well at Guilford earlier this year, posting the top RC 6K times of the season.  Liz Mumaw also takes to the fields as she looks to double-up on her first team showing in 2008.

Bridgewater also features some strong runners, including two-time ODAC Runner of the Week, Molly Smith.  Samantha Hancock owns the Eagles best time this season, currently third in the ODAC from her run at the Marlin Invitational in September.

Saturday's championships begin with the women's six kilometer race at 11:00 a.m.  The men's eight kilometer event follows at 12:00 p.m.