Oct. 3, 2008

CENTREVILLE, Va. - The George Mason men's and women's cross country teams will host the Mason Invitational this Saturday at Bull Run Park in Centreville, Va. The women's 6k race will begin at 10 a.m. with the men's 8k race starting at 10:45 a.m.

The men's race will include 18 teams, two of which are nationally ranked. Georgetown enters the meet ranked ninth nationally and first in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Following the Hoyas is the University of Virginia, ranked 12th in the national poll. The Cavaliers are ranked second in the Southeast Region. American University and the University of Maryland are also ranked in the Mid-Atlantic Region Poll. American is ranked eighth and right behind them are the Terrapins in ninth place.

The women's race will be a 19 team competition on Saturday. The lone nationally-ranked team is Georgetown. The Hoyas come into the Mason Invitational ranked 22nd nationally and third in the Mid-Atlantic Region Poll. Maryland holds the eighth spot in the Mid-Atlantic Region with Delaware following in ninth place. Virginia and James Madison enter the meet ranked sixth and 12th, respectively, in the Southeast Region Poll.

Colonial Athletic Association foes Delaware, Northeastern, UNC-Wilmington and Virginia Commonwealth will also race at Bull Run Park.

Scott Tekesky has had the best finish in a meet for Mason this season, earning an eighth-place finish at the James Madison Invitational. James Snyder and Everett Hackett join Tekesky as the three Patriots to break the 26-minute mark in an 8k race this season. Sophomore Samantha Fickel has been a top performer on the women's side this season, earning a 12th-place finish at the James Madison Invitational. Sisters, Karlyn and Kailyn Lockie, have also had strong performances this season as freshman.

The strong competition this weekend will be great preparation for the Patriots as the championship season nears. The Mason Invitational will also be good experience for the Patriots in preparation for the CAA Championship on Nov. 1, as Mason will also host that meet at Bull Run Park.