BIG EAST Preview on YNN
Syracuse Men Featured on Flotrack

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the Syracuse University cross country team will have home course advantage at the BIG EAST Championship. Jamesville Beach Park will be the site of competition on Saturday, October 30. The women's 6k race will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's 8k event at 11:15 a.m. An award ceremony will wrap up the event at noon. 

A Look at the Competition
This year's championship will feature 14 BIG EAST men's teams and 16 teams on the women's side. Six BIG EAST men's teams enter the meet ranked in the national top 30 according to the USTFCCCA. Syracuse is the highest ranked men's team at 17th. Georgetown, who finished on SU's heals last year at the conference meet, is ranked 21st. On the women's side, reigning NCAA Champions, No.1 Villanova will be joined by three other top 15 teams in Georgetown at No. 5, Syracuse at No. 8 and Providence at No. 13.

BIG EAST Rewind
At last year's BIG EAST Championship, the Orange men claimed its first conference title and the women took home a program-best third place. The men will look to be the first BIG EAST institution to repeat as champions, while the women will look to challenge No. 1 Villanova for a spot on the podium. Current junior Pat Dupont was SU's top finisher last year in fourth place with a time of 24:51. On the women's side, then-junior Katie Hursey finished in eighth to lead the Orange with a time of 21:30. Both runners will be key members of their respective teams at this year's championship. Prior to the BIG EAST Preview meet on September 11, the Orange had not competed on its home course since the 2004 season.

Visit the 2010 BIG EAST Championship Central for meet details and results following each race.