Oct. 30, 2004

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The University of Dayton men's and women's cross country teams finished 7th and 9th in the A-10 Championships. The La Salle men won their fourth consecutive championship after seven of its starters finished in the top ten and the La Salle women also took home their own championship trophy.

The Lady Explorers finished with 35 points, followed by 2003 champion Richmond with 61, Rhode Island (89), Duquesne (125), Massachusetts (161), Saint Joseph's (168), Xavier (172), George Washington (186), Dayton (212), Fordham (250) and St. Bonaventure (351).

The Flyers were lead by senior Michelle Griffin (19:24) in 31st place. Sophomore Lauren Fenske (19;35) finished in 39th, followed by 43rd So. Amanda Tucker (19:43), So. 47th Kiera Gottemoeller (19:49), 52nd Sr. Colleen Devanney (19:55), 59th Sr. Katie Dobie (20:05), and 60th So. Tessa Mott (20:08).

La Salle finished with 24 points in the 27th running of the men's A-10 Championship, 33 ahead of runner-up Duquesne, which notched its highest-ever finish. Xavier (106) recorded its best-ever finish with a third-place showing, followed by Richmond (143), Massachusetts (146), Fordham (159), Dayton (176), Saint Joseph's (193), Rhode Island (219), George Washington (259) and St. Bonaventure (354).

Freshman Michael Connolly (26:58) finished in 22nd place to lead the Flyers. Jr. David Berning (27:29) finished in 26th place, followed by 36th Fr. Billy Przybyla (27:35), 38th Eric Contreras (27:36), 46th Sr. Brett Fisher (27:56), 49th So. Brian Gilchrist (28:03), and 52nd So. Matt Manning (28:13).

The Flyers will take a week off before traveling to Ypsilanti, Mich., to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals.