Nov. 9, 2007
Regionals Site
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the NCAA Southeast Regionals on Saturday at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park in Louisville.
The men will kick off the Regionals with an 8k race beginning at 11 a.m. The women will follow with a 6k race at 12:15 p.m. Both start times are ET.
On the men's side, Greg Billington, John Compton, Marcus Dillon, Jeremy Fisico, Keaton Morgan, Matt Owen and Patrick Russell will run for the Deacons.
Wake Forest is coming off a seventh-place showing at the ACC Championships two weeks ago in Charlottesville. Billington placed 25th individually to pace the Deacs, and Compton was second on the squad in 34th.
The Deacons are familiar with the E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park course after competing in the Greater Louisville Classic on Sept. 29. As a team, the Deacs finished sixth of 36. Fisico led Wake with a 14th-place finish, while Billington finished 28th in his collegiate debut.
Wake finished 10th at the 2006 Southeast Regionals in Louisville. Compton led the Deacs in 49th place.
Wake Forest is seeking its first NCAA Championships appearance since 2001.
For the women, Jessica Barton, Cate Berenato, Chelsea Bolton, Marley Burns, Caitlin Chrisman, Merry Placer and Nicole Schappert will compete for the Deacons.
Wake Forest is coming off a seventh-place showing at the ACC Championships two weeks ago in Charlottesville. Schappert led the Deacs in 15th place, coming within two seconds of earning All-ACC honors. Chrisman (21st) and Bolton (25th) also turned in top-25 performances.
Last season, the Deacons placed fifth at the Southeast Regionals to qualify for their seventh-straight NCAA Championships appearance. Michelle Sikes finished second out of more than 200 runners, and Erin Franklin took 13th to lead Wake Forest.
The Deacs have competed at the NCAA Championships nine out of the past 10 years dating back to 1997.
The 2007 NCAA Championships will be held on Monday, Nov. 19, at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind.
