LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to host the 2008 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships.

The PSAC Championship meet is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 1) at LHU’s West Branch Cross Country Course. The men’s race (8K) kicks off at 11 a.m. and the women’s race (6K) follows at noon. Awards will be at 1:45 in Lock Haven’s Thomas Fieldhouse.

The No. 21 Bald Eagles will have their work cut for them, but they’re poised to go after their first title since 2006. No. 12 Edinboro University, last year’s team champion is the pre-meet favorite. The Fighting Scots are also the team that snapped LHU’s strangle-hold on the conference championship last fall after The Haven won four straight titles.

Lock Haven is led by the one-two punch of sophomores Tim Getz (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Nick Hilton (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township).

Also figuring in the mix for LHU is junior Brandon Pomerantz (Holland, Pa./Council Rock North) and rookie Mitch Miller (Morrisville, Pa./Morrisville-Eaton).

“This is the most focused team we've had headed into a PSAC championship, and I think it would be a mistake for anyone to count this group out,” LHU head coach Aaron Russell said. “Hilton and Getz provide us with a potent 1-2 punch up front, and I feel we have one of the deepest squads through and through.”

“They're all chomping at the bit to get going, so I'm anxious to see how they're able to raise the level of their racing,” added Russell.

The Lady Eagles are also looking for big things this weekend and will be led by senior Shala Simms (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and freshman Lindsey Lambert (Howell, N.J./Howell).

Senior Alyssa Douma (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) will also add a solid presence for The Haven women.

The women’s side will be looking to improve on its 10th place finish from a year ago.

The women's team will be led by an unlikely pair in Simms and Lambert, according to Russell.

“Going for her second All-PSAC honors, Simms is one of the top returners at this year's meet, and looks stronger than ever. Lambert is fearless, and will be on the attack from the start,” Russell said.

“They've both been really relaxed all week, so I really get the feeling they're ready to race well. They, along with their teammates, have had a great couple of practices the last two weeks, so I'm excited to see them go after it on Saturday,” he added.

Full 2008 PSAC Men’s Championship Preview:

Men’s PSAC Team Preview

The 51st edition of the men’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship will see perennial powerhouse Edinboro toe the line as the favorite to repeat their title from last season. Host Lock Haven will look to re-claim the title after winning four from 2003-2006, while a feisty Shippensburg squad will look to garner the Red Raiders their first-ever conference crown. Last year’s runner-up, Slippery Rock, also poses a threat to win their first title since 1991, while a strong team from California (Pa.) will play the role of the underdog in the quest for the title of “Best in the PSAC.”

The favored Edinboro team, ranked #12 nationally, finds itself in a familiar position. Head Coach Doug Watts, entering into his 40th season at the helm, will look to lead his team to its 20th title in the last 25 years, and its 27th overall crown. Sophomores Barry McLaughlin and Ben Hahn, both of whom finished in the top ten at last year’s championship, have led the ‘Boro up front all fall, and will be in the chase for the individual title. Lone senior Nick Hankins provides a strong number three for Edinboro, but the true test for the team will be to close the gap that has been present throughout the regular season between their front three runners and their 4-5 runners.

The hometown Haven squad, is led by the strong 1-2 punch of Nick Hilton and Tim Getz up front. The sophomore duo has commanded 19th-ranked Lock Haven up front for the meat of the regular season, and has a strong supporting cast that features no seniors in the line up. Rookie Mitch Miller and junior Brandon Pomerantz have added a strong second wave to The Haven’s lineup, along with a corps of others who contribute to a tight pack.

Shippensburg also has a strong front running sophomore in Bryan Beegle, who will battle up front for individual honors. For the Red Raiders, however, it is their strong pack behind Beegle that could lead them to their inaugural team title. Sean Stetler, Jake Sitler, Ethan Rissell and Josh Neyhart, all fellow sophomores, work well together and make Shippensburg a team that will continue to be in contention for years to come.

The Rock has arguably the best pair of runners up front with seniors Jeff Weiss and Pat Reagan having attained All-America accolades throughout their careers. Both should be in the hunt for top honors, but for the team to do well the remainder of their scorers will have to have strong performances. Slippery Rock will be counting on returning All-PSAC honoree Kevin Dustin, along with Jason Leonard and George Walton, to maneuver through the field in order to help the team match or better last year’s runner-up finish.

California is led by senior Chris Clark, who will be a formidable threat individually. A strong showing by his teammates, including Eric Reger and Tim Lahmers, could have them in the mix for a team title once the scores are tallied.

Bloomsburg’s men, along with Indiana (Pa.) and Millersville could also provide some surprises at this year’s championships. Bloomsburg seniors Mike Dalton and Jim Stockley have been running well for the Huskies all season and could have a breakthrough day on LHU’s flat and fast course. Fellow seniors Nate Shelly and Matt Gaudet provide a similar weapon for Indiana (Pa) and are both in contention for top-ten showings. Millersville’s Jim Boyer, Adam Malloy and James McBride will lead a much improved pack for the Marauders, while East Stroudsburg’s Doug Jankowski will lead a young squad for the Warriors.

Mercyhurst’s Tomas Bolger is the top threat from PSAC newcomers Mercyhurst and Gannon, who join one of the deepest conferences in the nation. The Kutztown, West Chester, Mansfield and Cheyney teams complete the large field, and have just as strong a chance to make an impact on the final conference results as do their highly touted counterparts.

Full 2008 PSAC Women’s Championship Preview:

Women’s PSAC Team Preview

The 29th women’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships promises to be memorable on a number of fronts. Though a large number of individuals will vie for All-PSAC accolades, and a number of teams are in contention to make a run at the team title, it is the size of the championship field that must first be noted. With the addition of Mercyhurst and Gannon to the already strong PSAC, this year’s championship will feature the participation of a record sixteen teams. Never before in the history of the conference has this many teams contested a championship, regardless of the sport.

Leading the way on this historic weekend will be freshman Neely Spence and her Shippensburg teammates, who are currently ranked sixth nationally. Spence has turned in blistering performances throughout the regular season, and will be tough to beat in her inaugural PSAC championship. The Red Raiders have never had an individual champion in women’s cross country, nor have they won a team title since 1997. This could be the year, however, as Spence has a tremendously talented contingent behind her. Sprinter-turned-distance runner Mary Dell returns after an All-PSAC rookie campaign, along with fellow sophomore Abigail Huber, herself having placed seventh in 2007. Twelfth as a team in 2006, a Shippensburg victory would give Cinderella a run for her money.

The stiffest competition for Shippensburg will come from a trio of other nationally ranked opponents, including 12th-ranked Kutztown, 13th-ranked Edinboro and 15th-ranked Slippery Rock. Indiana (Pa.) and Bloomsburg could also break into the top echelons of the standings, having both been nationally ranked at different times throughout the seasson, as could strong entries from both Millersville and host Lock Haven.

Kutztown’s Joanna Horstmann, the team’s only returning All-PSAC selection, will lead the Golden Bears’ charge for PSAC supremacy. Underclassmen Halley Dell, Kristin Cupido and rookie Kristy Ulrich should all provide Kutztown with further ammunition as they target their first PSAC crown. Add Keri Brown and Cristina Relmer to the mix, and with good races by everyone the Golden Bears could give Shippensburg a run for their money. Edinboro, a perpetual contender, will look to regain the team title after having their string of nine snapped last season. At the reigns for the ‘Boro will be sophomore Tina Yi, who has been a stalwart up front for the Fighting Scots throughout the regular season. Amber Sanders and Hilary Weismiller should also be at the forefront of Edinboro’s attempt at title number sixteen.

A victory at the Pre-NCAA championships held last month has a strong Slippery Rock contingent brimming with confidence. With talent like 2007 NCAA Championship individual qualifier Jaime Wright, the top returner to this year’s PSAC championship field, and Jennifer Harpp, the sixth-place finisher from 2006, The Rock has the potential recipe for an upset in 2008.

Indiana (Pa.) will count on returning All-PSAC runners Maureen Newell and Stacie Stockard to help the Crimson Hawks lay stake to their eighth PSAC team title. Nationally ranked as recently as two weeks ago, Head Coach Ed Fry’s sends a very capable team to the start line that will be on everyone’s radar as the gun fires. Returning champion Bloomsburg should also not be overlooked as they have a strong mix of new and returning talent. Andrea Kellock, Angela Borealo, Ashley Shuck and Beth Schwing proved themselves gamers in leading the Huskies to their first PSAC trophy last year, and hope to rekindle their winning ways along the riverbanks of the Susquehanna’s West Branch.

Strong frontrunners will mark the efforts of squads from both Millersville and Lock Haven in 2008. Priscilla Jennings provides a significant threat for an individual victory, while Brittney Zuver and Jess Leddy should help place the Marauders high up in the team standings. For The Haven, Shala Simms will look for her second All-PSAC accolade after finishing sixth in 2007. Rookie Lindsey Lambert is also hungry to make some noise as the Lady Eagles look to impress their home crowd.

Individually, Mercyhurst’s Christie Turak will look to earn the Lakers’ place in the PSAC record books with a strong individual performance. East Stroudsburg’s Niki Pasquaella could also contend for All-PSAC honors.

Taking to the West Branch paths to challenge the frontrunners will also be a strong pack of competitors from Clarion, Mansfield, West Chester, Cheyney and Gannon, who round out the record-setting field at the women’s championship meet.

The PSAC Championship meet is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 1) at LHU’s West Branch Cross Country Course. The men’s race (8K) kicks off at 11 a.m. and the women’s race (6K) follows at noon. Awards will be at 1:45 in Lock Haven’s Thomas Fieldhouse.

Below is the link for the official 2008 PSAC Cross Country webpage.

Results can be found at HavenSports.com post-meet.