Dayton Flyers

NCAA Division I Pre-National Invitational
Site (Host): Terre Haute, Ind. (Indiana State University)
Home Meet Website
Course: LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course
Date/Time: Sunday, October 16, 2011 – 11:40 a.m.
Distance: 6,000 Meter (6K)

University of Dayton women’s cross country will run its first 6K competition of the season this Sunday at the NCAA Division I Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. – the site of the NCAA Championship meet. The women’s race will begin at 11:40 a.m. ET.

“This weekend is our first 6K of the season, so I am anxious to see how the racing and training thus far will translate,” Head Coach Sarah Hinkley said, “Our ladies don't get too worked up about the added distance. Ultimately we are training for Regionals which is a contested 6K so this is good gage of fitness and where I believe they can be in four weeks.”

The Flyers are No. 11 in the latest USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional poll heading into their final tune-up before the Atlantic 10 Championships in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 29.

“We are at that point in the season where every workout and race really means a lot,” Hinkley added. “It will be interesting to see who our top 10 will be at A-10's in a few weeks.”

Senior Elissa Mason has paced the Flyers in each race this season and is coming off a third-place finish at the All-Ohio Championships on Sept. 30. Mason ran a 22:24.1 6K time at last year’s pre-national race as Dayton’s third-best finisher. As a team, the Flyers finished 30th at the 2010 Pre-Nationals.

“The ladies are looking tough and they're right where I like to see them at this point in the season,” Hinkley said. “They're recovering quicker from hard efforts and continually doing the little things to stay healthy.”

Check DaytonFlyers.com and host Indiana State’s GoSycamores.com for the latest results on Sunday.