Notre Dame Cross Country To Host 25th Annual National Catholic Invitational

Sept. 16, 2004

Notre Dame, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s cross country teams will host the 25th annual National Catholic Invitational this Friday, Sept. 17. The women’s 34-team field will take to the Burke Memorial Golf Course route at 4:15 (EST), while the 32-team men’s field hits the course at 5:00.

The Irish men had a successful beginning to their 2004 season as they easily captured the Valparaiso Invitational title on Sept. 10. Notre Dame swept the top-six spots in the race led by a one-two-three finish by Daniel Driscoll, Ryan Johnson, and Michael Manning.

The Notre Dame women, who were ranked fourth according the finishlynx.com preseason poll, opened the 2004 campaign with a third-place finish at the Valparaiso Invitational. The two-time defending BIG EAST champions did not enter their regular eight runners in order to give some of the other athletes valuable race experience. Junior Elizabeth Webster finished third and was joined in the top-ten by her teammate Katie DeRusso, who placed eighth.

Both Notre Dame squads have had tremendous success at the National Catholic Invitational throughout the years, including a sweep of last year’s team championships. Irish runners have combined to win 20 individual titles and Notre Dame has claimed a total of 26 team crowns. The Irish men have won the past nine invitationals, while the women have captured 10 of the last 12.

Notre Dame senior Kerry Meagher will be looking to defend her 2003 title and her teammates’ Webster and Jean Marinangeli hope to repeat their top-five performances of a year ago. Returning to the course for the Irish men will be junior Kaleb Van Ort and senior Sean O’Donnell, who finished second and third, respectively, in 2003 invitational.

For results of each race, please log on to www.und.com or call the Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.

2004 National Catholic Cross Country Invitational Participating Teams: Bellarmine University, Canisius College, Clarke College, University of Dayton, De Paul University, University of Detroit-Mercy, De Sales University, Edgewood College, The Franciscan University, Gannon University, Gonzaga University, College of the Holy Cross, John Carroll University, Loras College, Marian College, Mercyhurst College, Mount Mercy College, Newman University, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame College (OH), St. Ambrose University, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s College (IN), Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Saint Louis University, Saint Martin’s College, Saint Mary’s College (IN), College of Saint Mary’s (NE), St. Thomas University, Saint Vincent College, Saint Xavier University, Seattle University, Siena Heights University, Walsh University, Xavier University.

— ND –