November 17, 1998

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's and women's cross country teams will run at the NCAA Cross Country Championship on Monday, Nov. 23 in Lawrence, Kan. The men's race will begin at 11:30 a.m. (EST) and the women's race will commence at 12:30 p.m. (EST).

The men's squad, which is ranked No. 6 in the country according to the NCAA Men's Cross Country Poll released on Tuesday, Nov. 17, will be making its fourth consecutive appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. The Friars are led by senior Ben Noad (Bristol, England) and junior Keith Kelly (Drogheda, Ireland). On Nov. 14, Kelly and Noad finished first and third, respectively, at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship at Van Cortlandt Park in New York, N.Y. The two harriers led the Friars to a first-place team finish and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

The women's team, which is ranked No. 8 in the country according to the NCAA Women's Cross Country Poll released on Monday, Nov. 16, will be making its 10th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. In each of their last nine appearances at the NCAA Championship, the Friars have finished in the top 10, including last year's sixth-place finish. Senior Sarah Dupre (Kingston, Ontario) and sophomore Rachel Hixson (Media, Pa.) are PC's top two runners. Dupre placed second and Hixson was fourth at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship on Nov. 14 at Van Cortlandt Park. Dupre and Hixson led the Friars to a first place finish and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

The Providence College men's and women's cross country teams are coached by Ray Treacy. Treacy,who is in his 15th year as the head coach, has coached more than 85 All-American athletes at Providence.

NCAA Men's Cross Country Poll

SCHOOL POINTS

1. Arkansas (11) 395

2. Stanford (5) 389

3. Oregon 363

4. Colorado 355

5. Michigan State 316

6. Providence 315

7. Michigan 289

8. Oklahoma State 287

9. James Madison 268

10. North Carolina State 262

11. Northern Arizona 203

12. Butler 195

13. Wisconsin 178

14. Dartmouth 158

15. Princeton 153

16. Arizona 150

17. Georgetown 133

18. Iona 130

19. Washington State 129

20. Iowa 100

21. Central Michigan 76

22. Portland 75

23. Minnesota 65

24. Weber State 42

25. Missouri 36

( ) = first-place votes

NCAA Women's Cross Country Poll

SCHOOL POINTS

1. Brigham Young (6) 222

2. Villanova (3) 216

3. Arizona 195

4. Wisconsin 194

5. Arkansas 189

6. Stanford 185

7. Michigan 169

8. Providence 158

Georgetown 158

10. North Carolina State 155

11. Washington 131

12. Wake Forest 121

13. Colorado 118

14. Kansas State 103

15. Northern Arizona 94

16. Oregon 90

17. North Carolina 78

18. Florida 71

19. Missouri 52

William & Mary 52

21. South Florida 46

22. Baylor 39

23. Cornell 33

24. Minnesota 30

25. Tennessee 10

( ) = first-place votes