KENOSHA, Wis. - The Syracuse University cross country teams are set to compete at the 2009 BIG EAST Championships, hosted by Marquette University on Saturday, Oct. 31. The men's 8,000-meter competition will begin at 12:00 p.m., with the women's 6,000-meter to follow at 12:50 p.m. Both races will take place at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course, for the first time in the Conference's championship history. 

Both SU squads will enter Saturday's race having attained their highest national rankings in school history during the 2009 season. The No. 14 men reached a high of No. 11 earlier this season, while the women have steadily improved to No. 10.

"The biggest key to our success has been depth and hard, smart work by the kids on the team," said head coach Chris Fox. "The national rankings validate the hard work that the kids are doing in trying to become one of the best programs in the country."

While both SU teams are ranked in the national polls, they will be up against many of the country's best, as the BIG EAST boasts 11 teams, including five men's teams and six women's teams in the top 30. On the men's side, the Orange will be the second highest ranked team in the competition. No. 10 Villanova leads the pack, with No. 17 Providence, No. 22 Villanova and No. 25 Louisville ranking behind Syracuse.

In the women's contest, Syracuse is one four teams currently ranked in the nation's top 10, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association polls. No. 2 Villanova, No. 4 West Virginia, and No. 9 Georgetown rank higher than the Orange heading into Saturday's meet, with No. 24 Providence and No. 30 Notre Dame rounding out the Conference's top 30 selections.

"Both teams hope to be in the top four," Fox said. "There are quite a few nationally ranked teams in both races."

Both teams will look to improve on the fifth place finishes they earned at last year's BIG EAST Championships. Seniors Brad Miller and Dan Busby will provide leadership for the Orange men, as they clocked the team's two best times in last year's meet. Miller, who placed fourth overall in the 2008 Championship, secured his highest finish of the 2009 season at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational, where he placed fifth. Busby, who earned a 19th place finish at this meet last season, earned fifth overall to lead his team at the Panorama Invitational on Oct. 17.

For the women, senior Maegan Krifchin is a Championship veterasn, as she finished 19th overall in 2008. In addition, sophomores Heather Stephens and Lauren Penney will return to the competition looking to propel the Orange, after placing 26th and 30th last year, respectively. Junior Rebekah Mackay, who won the 2009 Colgate Invitational, and junior Katie Hursey, who secured SU's best time at both the Wisconsin and Pre-National Invites, will also be returning to the BIG EAST Championships on Saturday.

Following this week's meet, the SU cross country teams will take part in the 2009 NCAA Northeast Regional in Boston, Mass. on Nov. 14.