SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's cross country team has been picked to finish fifth at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships this season, as announced in the Preseason Coaches Poll released by the league office Wednesday. The Rock is also picked to finish fifth at the NCAA Atlantic Regional championships, as announced in the preseason NCAA Division II regional rankings.

Shippensburg was selected atop both the PSAC poll and the regional rankings, earning 10 first-place votes in the conference. Lock Haven ranked second in the league poll and third in the regional rankings, while Edinboro ranked third in the coaches poll and second in the region.

East Stroudsburg, Slippery Rock, Indiana (Pa.), Bloomsburg, Millersville, California (Pa.) and Kutztown rounded out the top-10 in the PSAC poll.

The Rock, under 24th-year head coach John Papa, will look to improve on uncharacteristic seventh-place finishes last season at both the PSAC and Atlantic Regional meets.

Slippery Rock returns 12 runners from last season and will welcome six newcomers. Among the returnees are four runners that scored points at both championship meets last season.

Leading the way will be senior Brian Ulrich, who earned All-Conference and All-Region honors last season. Ulrich was The Rock's second-place finisher at the PSAC meet, crossing the line in 16th-place. He followed that by leading the team at the regional meet with a 10-place finish.

Eric Geddis was The Rock's third-place finisher at both championship meets last season, coming home 51st at the league meet and 55th at regionals. Jon Snowden was the fourth finisher for SRU at the PSAC meet (81st), while Jason Leonard was the fourth finisher at the regional meet (72nd). Rogers Clements rounded out the scorers for SRU at both meets, placing 86th at the conference meet and 82nd at regionals.

Also returning this season and looking to step into a scoring position is Dylan Klein, who improved steadily throughout the track and field seasons last year as a freshman. Klein will be joined by George Walton and his brother Scott Walton. George had a stellar season two years ago and will look to return to top form this fall.

Also returning is Matt Mumford, who showed signs of top-five potential last season, along with Alex Koksal and Shane Duda.

The six newcomers are all freshman: Travis Arrigoni, Michael Beegle, Morgan Elliott, Joseph Hickey, Mike McCarter and Jacob Spurk.

The Rock's season will unofficially open this Saturday (Aug. 28) at the annual Alumni Race, hosted on campus. The first official meet of the year will be the Seagull Invitational, hosted by Salisbury University in Maryland Sept. 4.

The 2010 schedule features five meets before the conference championships, including two races at SRU's home course at Cooper's Lake Campground. The Rock will host a quad meet Sept. 17 and an Invitational Oct. 2.

The PSAC Championships will be hosted by California (Pa.) Nov. 6, followed by the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional meet Nov. 20 in Cary, N.C. and the NCAA Division II Championships Dec. 4 in Louisville, Ky.


PSAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parenthesis)

1. Shippensburg (10)
2. Lock Haven (3)
3. Edinboro (2)
4. East Stroudsburg
5. Slippery Rock
6. Indiana (Pa.)
T7. Bloomsburg
T7. Millersville
9. California (Pa.)
10. Kutztown
11. Mansfield
12. West Chester
13. Mercyhurst
14. Gannon
15. Cheyney

NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Rankings
(released by U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association)

1. Shippensburg
2. Edinboro
3. Lock Haven
4. Millersville
5. Slippery Rock
6. East Stroudsburg
7. California (Pa.)
8. Wheeling Jesuit
9. Bloomsburg
10. Indiana (Pa.)