Oct. 29, 2009

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond cross country teams begin the postseason portion of their schedules Saturday when they compete at the Atlantic 10 Championship hosted by Saint Louis University. The women are looking to defend their 2008 crown.

The 32nd-annual Men's Championship begins at 10 a.m. CT on the 8k course, followed at 10:45 a.m. CT by the 21st-annual Women's Championship on the 5k track.

Junior Nicol Traynor leads the women into Saturday's Championship, after an All-Conference finish last season as the team captured the program's second-ever title. Richmond was a preseason pick by the league's coaches to win title No. 3.

"We're looking forward to the race this weekend," said women's head coach Lori Taylor. "Our girls have prepared and know it's nearly time to execute their race plan. We are healthy at this point and for the first time this season we'll have Nicol (Traynor) racing for us. She's excited to race after a good opening effort at William & Mary two weeks ago."

With Traynor not racing for much of the fall, senior Jenn Ennis has stepped up to lead the Spiders. Ennis was tabbed the A-10 Performer of the Week after a second-place finish at the UNC Challenge.

"We need to be consistent and in position by the halfway point," said Taylor. "The conference teams have remarkably improved over the past four years. It's so much more competitive which makes for an exciting championship."

Last season, the women outdistanced runner-up Charlotte, 48-67.

With the usual suspects absent from the men's lineup this fall - seniors Andrew Benford, Matt Llano and Jon Wilson, who are redshirting - the Spiders have leaned on junior Tim Quinn for much of the season. He's led the Spiders in every race this fall, including his first collegiate win at the Spider Alumni Open.

Quinn will lead the Spiders, who were a preseason No. 2 pick by the league's coaches. Sophomore Levi Grandt will also miss the Championship due to injury.

"Our teams have been training at a very high level and this is the first week we have tapered this season," said men's head coach Steve Taylor. "Their weekly mileage has dropped and they will be rested going into Saturday's races. With the depletions to our lineup, Tim (Quinn) and Garrett (Graham) - our team leaders - will need to show the way for our freshmen. Kevin (Romesser) and Sean (Steller) also appear ready for good races and will be counted on."

Massachusetts edged Duquesne by a point in last year's Championship.

"I've been around this league since my early college years going back to the 1980's and there has never been a more competitive and deep Championship," said Taylor. "Last year the conference qualified seven athletes to the NCAA Championships and this year there will likely be more than that. There will be some serious racing in Saint Louis on Saturday morning."

Stay tuned to RichmondSpiders.com on Saturday for a compete recap, with video highlights and interviews to follow early next week.