Sept. 15, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame cross country program is set to renew a 30-plus year tradition on Friday, as the Irish play host the 32nd annual National Catholic Championships at the Notre Dame Cross Country Course.
The women’s 5K-championship race will begin at 4:15 p.m. ET, with the men’s five-mile championship race slated for 5 p.m. A JV race will be run prior to both championship races at 3:30 p.m.
A staple since 1980, the men’s race welcomes 31 teams in addition to the Irish for this year’s race. Notre Dame has won the race a record 21 times, including 19 of the last 24 years. Fifteen Irish men have won the individual race.
The women’s race began in 1984 with Notre Dame claiming victory 17 times, with 16 individual crowns. This year, 32 teams in addition to the Irish will compete for the title. Last year, sophomore Meg Ryan won the race as a freshman.
A total of 823 runners will run around the Notre Dame course this year.
The Irish are coming off a pair of second place finishes two weeks ago at the Valparaiso Crusader Invitational. Junior Jessica Rydberg claimed second place in the women’s race, while sophomore transfer Patrick Lesiewicz finished third in the men’s race.
For a complete recap and results of the National Catholic Championships, check out UND.com at the conclusion of the meet on Friday night.
Notre Dame Men’s Runners
Tyler Bartlow
Jordan Carlson
Johnny Fuller
Martin Grady
Jason Hoard
Kevin Jacobs
Jake Kildoo
Patrick Lesiewicz
Kelly Lynch
Jeffrey MacMillan
J.P. Malette
Joe Miller
Ryan Nichols
Thomas Pesch
Christopher Quinn
Walter Schafer
Jack Seeberg
Johnathan Shawel
Patrick Smith
DJ Thornton
Michael Tripp
Notre Dame Women’s Runners
Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz
Alexa Aragon
Colleen Boyle
Kelly Curran
Emily Frydrych
Gabby Gonzales
Megan Heeder
Molly Hirt
Katie Moran
Michelle Mowry
Ryan Russ
Angela Ryck
Jessica Rydberg
Allison Schroeder
Katherine Stultz
Susanna Sullivan
Rebecca Tracy
Rachel Velarde
Colleen Wade
–ND–