LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to travel to Erie, Pa. for the 2009 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships.

The Meet:

The Bald and Lady Eagles will travel to Erie, Pa. for the PSAC Championships tomorrow (Saturday, October 31). The 2009 Championships are being hosted by Edinboro University. The women’s 6K race starts at 10 a.m., followed by the men’s 8K race at 11 a.m.

LHU head coach Aaron Russell is looking for big things from both of his team’s on Saturday, as both The Haven men and women squads have their eye big finishes.

The Bald Eagles:

Chris Bell (Marysville, Pa./Susquenita)

Josh Gainer (State College, Pa./Akron Univ.)

Mike Garraway (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff)

Nick Hilton (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township)

A.J. Johnson (Coventry, R.I./Coventry)

Mitch Miller (Morrisville, N.Y./Morrisville-Eaton)

Sean Norberg (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River)

Brandon Pomerantz (Holland, Pa./Council Rock North)

Jed Yeatts (Mercersburg, Pa./James Buchanan)

Nathan Zondlo (Avoco, Pa./Pittston Area)

The Bald Eagles, who’ve taken third at each of the last two PSAC Championships will look to contend for the team title this year at Edinboro.

Russell certainly has the talent on the men’s side and the Bald Eagles will be led by Hilton, who will look to capture the individual crown.

The men’s team race will be a battle between LHU, Edinboro and Shippensburg as those three schools have separated themselves from the field and could hold a number of all-conference contenders.

Along with Hilton, Lock Haven has been led a strong front running pack which includes Pomerantz, Johnson and Miller.

Yeatts and rookie Garraway have really come strong as of late too that duo could prove to be a huge key for Lock Haven come race day if LHU is to capture its fifth PSAC crown.

Russell feels the men are as ready as they can be and he is looking forward to seeing his No. 19 Bald Eagles compete in Erie.

The Lady Eagles:

Michele Gallen (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin)

Theresa Gould (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham)

Ashley Herr (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton)

Lindsey Lambert (Howell, N.J./Howell)

Melinda Liptak (Gilbertsville, Pa./Marywood Univ.)

Alexis Patrick (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional)

Katie Peters (Singing Springs, Pa./Wilson)

Rachel Taylor (Townsend, Del./Smyrna)

Lindsay Topper (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin)

Courtney Whitmoyer (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley)

The Lady Eagles are ranked No. 4 in the most recent U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Atlantic Region poll.

Last year the Lady Eagles placed seventh at the conference championships and were led by their first duo to place within the top-10 for some time, as both Lambert and recent graduate Shala Simms earned All-PSAC accolades.

Russell feels he certainly has two athletes that could push to accomplish that task for the second straight season.

Lambert and Topper will look to achieve All-Conference status and lead the Lady Eagles to what Russell feels could be their best team performance since LHU was second in 2000.

The Lady Eagles have been led by the very solid pack of Liptak, Gould and Patrick. The trio will look to help spark Lock Haven’s push for a championship.

Russell feel that key for the Lady Eagles will be a tight pack, saying that when the women runner together they have their best success.

Shippensburg has been ranked among the top women’s teams in the nation and year and will look to battle for the top. Lock Haven, Kutztown and Slippery Rock will look to contend for the title as well on the women’s side.

Official Meet Website:

For more information, visit Edinboro’s official championship website.