UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – With postseason competition right around the corner, the Penn State cross country program hosts its final regular season meet of the season, the National Open, on Friday, Oct. 12, at the Blue-White Golf Course. The meet begins at 10:45 a.m. with the women's 6k followed by the men's 5.2-mile run at 11:30 a.m.
PARKING INFORMATION
All spectators need to park in the Nittany Deck near the Nittany Lion Inn for $1/hr rate, parking is limited in this area. In addition to the Nittany Deck, the commuter lots are also available for spectators.
TEAMS COMPETING (Both genders unless noted)
Akron, Arkansas (M), Boston College (W), Brown, Bucknell, Charleston Southern (M), Cornell (W), Dartmouth, Duquesne, Eastern Kentucky, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Iona, James Madison (W), Kentucky, Lehigh (W), Loyola (W), Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Princeton (W), Rutgers, Utah (W), Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia (W).
RANKED TEAMS AT THE NATIONAL OPEN
The National Open features at least five ranked teams in the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) coaches' poll in both races.
On the men's side, Arkansas is No. 16, Eastern Kentucky is No. 18, Virginia is No. 19, Iona is No. 27, Georgetown is No. 29, Virginia Tech is No. 30, while Michigan State is receiving votes.
In the women's race, Michigan State is No. 14, Penn State is No. 19, Georgia Tech is No. 26, Utah is No. 27, Princeton is No. 29, while Dartmouth and Georgetown are both receiving votes.
LAST TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions last competed at the Nuttycombe Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin on Sept. 28. At the Nuttycombe Invitational, the Nittany Lion women placed 13th (319 points), while the Nittany Lion men took 28th (693 points).
Individually at Wisconsin, freshman Julia Paternain finished 30th with a time of 20:22.7 in the women's 6k, while Colin Abert completed the men's 8k in 24:04.3 to finish 56th overall.
LAST YEAR AT THE NATIONAL OPEN
The Nittany Lion women brought home the team title (44 points), while the Nittany Lion men finished second (60 points). Individually for Penn State, Jillian Hunsberger paced the women with a second-place finish (20:22), while Colin Abert took third in the men's race (25:19).
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
The Nittany Lions have combined for four athlete of the week honors. On the year, Colin Abert has been named the Big Ten Athlete of the Week twice (Sept. 5 & 12) and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete of the Week once (Sept. 10). Along with Abert, Julia Paternain was tabbed the Big Ten Athlete of the Week (Sept. 12).
IN THE RANKINGS
Nationally, the Penn State women check in at No. 19. Regionally, the three-time defending Mid-Atlantic Champion Penn State women are No. 2, while the men's team is No. 4.
HOME SWEET HOME
Penn State will host three meets this fall at the Blue-White Golf Course. In addition to the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational (Sept. 7) and the National Open (Oct. 12), the Nittany Lions will host the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship (Nov. 9).
UP NEXT
Postseason competition begins for the Nittany Lions with the Big Ten Championships on Sunday, Oct. 28. The meet is hosted by the University of Nebraska at the Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Big Ten Championships begin with the women's 6k at 11:45 a.m. (EDT) followed by the men's 8k at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).