Dayton Flyers

Aug. 21, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The University of Dayton men's cross country team is predicted to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference in voting conducted by the league's head coaches, announced on Friday.

The Flyers are coming off one of their best seasons in program history in which the team sent two runners to the NCAA National Championships for the first time ever and finished sixth at the A-10 Championships. The best three times in school history were recorded at last year's Championships behind juniors Matt and Chris Lemon and redshirt senior Mike Andersen who all return this season.

Massachusetts is the choice to repeat as A-10 men's cross country champion. The Minutemen will be led by senior Jonathan Pierce, who finished ninth overall at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship as UMass edged runner-up Duquesne by a single point (75-76) en route to capturing the program's second-ever title. The Dukes are picked third.

Led by seniors Matt Llano and Andrew Benford, who finished second and fourth, respectively, at last year's Championship, Richmond is picked second. Dayton has been tabbed fourth, followed by La Salle, Charlotte, Saint Joseph's, Xavier, Temple, Fordham, Saint Louis, George Washington, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.

The A-10 Men's Cross Country Championship will be held Oct. 31 at Forest Park in St. Louis, Mo. Dayton begins the 2009 season in the team's only home meet of the year, the Meijer Flyer 5k, on September 5 at Indian Riffle Park in Kettering, OH.