Nov. 18, 2007
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The 19th-ranked Notre Dame men’s cross country team will make its 15th team appearance in 18 years at the NCAA Cross Country Championships when they compete Monday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Complex in Terre Haute, Ind. The competition is set to begin at 12:05 p.m. (ET) with the men’s 10K. Led by junior Patrick Smyth (Salt Lake City, UT/Judge Memorial), the Irish received an at-large bid a week ago after placing third at the Great Lakes Regional.
Smyth won the individual title at the meet, not only earning him all-Region honors, but he was also named the Great Lakes Region Male Athlete of the Year. He goes into the national championship meet as one of the top runners and he will make a run for his second All-America accolade. Right behind Smyth at the Regional meet was senior Jake Watson (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater Area) in fourth place, also earning all-Region honors.
Smyth and Watson, along with teammates Brett Adams (Davenport, IA/Assumption), Dan Curran (Naperville, IL/North), Dan Jackson (Ann Arbor, MI/Dexter), Mike Popejoy (Wheaton, IL/Warrenville South) and Jake Walker (Ellwood City, PA/Lincoln) will all take to the field Monday morning. Adams, Smyth Walker and Watson each return with NCAA experience after competing in the national meet in 2006. A year ago, the Notre Dame men finished 19th, with Smyth taking first for the Irish in the 36th position and earning him his first All-America honors.
More information on the 2007 NCAA Championship can be found on the Indiana State University cross country website (www.gosycamores.com), including a complete list of entries for the competition. A final recap and results can be found at www.und.com after the conclusion of the days races.
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