Oct. 29, 2009
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams head to Cary, N.C. on Saturday to take part in the 2009 ACC Championships held at the WakeMed Soccer Park and hosted by NC State. The men’s 8K race will begin at 9:30 a.m., while the women’s 6K will start at 10:30 a.m.
Both squads will face tough competition at the event, as four teams from the men’s and women’s sides are ranked in the top 30 of the USTFCCCA poll.
“This is a big meet this weekend and the men and women are excited about competing in the always tough ACC Championships,” said head coach Alan Drosky. “Great competition brings out the best in an athlete.
“We’ve prepared well and for the most part are free of significant injury and illness. The men have a solid pack and that will help us in this meet. The women will have to work hard and stay focused on their races.”
The women’s team will look to improve on an 11th place finish at the 2008 ACC Championships held in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Yellow Jackets will be led at the start line by sophomore Mary Kate DuBard, who has been the team’s top finisher on the year in four events. Earlier in the season, Dubard finished second on the WakeMed course in 18:03 at the Great American Cross Country Festival.
Other runners to look out for the women include freshman Kate Borowicz, who finished right behind Dubard at the Great American Cross Country Festival in 10h place and sophomore Annie Martin, who placed 15th at the same event in 18:47.
The men’s squad will be looking to improve on a 10th place finish at last year’s ACC Championships. Leading the way for the Yellow Jacket men is junior D.J. McMillan, who has been Georgia Tech top finisher in two events on the year. At the Great American Cross Country Festival, McMillian ran strong on the WakeMed Course with a time of 24:55 to finish eighth.
Other runners who could contribute on Saturday include senior Billy Mateker, who has finished right behind McMillan in two events, including the Great American Cross Country Festival with a 15th place finish in 25:14 and fellow senior Matt Hickey, who’s finished third best for Georgia Tech in three events.
“Both teams raced on the course earlier this season so they should know what to expect,” continued Drosky. “The men’s course will be identical to what they ran previously. The women’s course will be 6000m as opposed to the 5000m course from earlier this season, but they have seen the extra 1000m loop.”
Fans are reminded that full results and a full recap of the action will be posted on RamblinWreck.com following competition on Saturday.
