Syracuse University
2009 USA Cross Country Championships
SU to Compete Overseas in March
2/7/2009 3:08:12 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Results from the 2009 USA Cross Country Championship
DERWOOD, MD. – Under the direction of head coach Chris Fox, the Syracuse track & field team has gotten off to a blazing-hot start this indoor season. As numerous indoor records have taken a tumble this year, primarily in the sprinting and hurdles events, the Orange harriers' squad put an exclamation point on the distance game on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the 2009 USA Cross Country Championships at the Agricultural History Farm Park.
Up for grabs at Saturday's 8K "selection event" was a chance to represent the United States at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championship in Amman, Jordan. The top six finishers in the junior men's 8K would qualify for the World Championship at the end of March.
In six weeks, the Middle East will have two Orange members of the cross country and track & field team in freshmen Pat Dupont and Tito Medrano represent Syracuse University overseas. Dupont and Medrano finished fifth and sixth, respectively, garnering the chance to wear the Red, White and Blue at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championship. Dupont blazed the 8K path in 24:39 while his teammate Medrano closed out his day in 24:42.
"This is certainly one of the best days I can recall for both our cross country and track & field programs here at Syracuse," head coach Chris Fox stated. "As long as I've been here, there hasn't been a day that stands out quite like this one."
Two other first-year runners, Griff Graves and Zach Rivers, are in contention to be placed on the full junior men's squad as voted on by the governing body of United States Track & Field of America (USATF) due to their top 15 finishes. Graves generated 10th place showing of 24:55. Rivers rounded out the 8K in 25:10 for 14th.
Freshman Forrest Misenti also participated, yielding a 32nd place finish in 26:04.
"The coaching staff assembled one of the country's top recruiting classes last season," Fox said. "Today is an example of how all of our hard work has finally come to fruition. I am so proud of our guys and I can't wait for them to represent Syracuse University overseas."
Athletes who meet the eligibility requirements will select themselves onto Team USA for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships via descending order of finish in the relevant event at the 2009 USA Cross Country Championships (hereafter known as the "selection event"). Athletes must commit to a spot on Team USA no later than the Wednesday following the selection race or they will forfeit their place on that squad. If an athlete declines a spot on Team USA, that spot will be offered to the next finisher in the relevant race at the selection event until the team is filled.
The IAAF currently permits each nation to enter six athletes in the senior men's, senior women's, junior men's, and junior women's races. Team USA will field a full squad as long as all team members finish in the top 15 at the selection event. If a particular Team USA squad is not filled by the top 15 finishers at the selection event, The USATF Cross Country Council, in consultation with the National Office, reserves the right to fill the squad size to one athlete more than the number of scorers in that event at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships (4 senior men, senior women, junior men, and junior women).
The 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championship in Amman, Jordan will take place on Saturday, March 28.
