The Fiasco Ahead

On the college cross country scene in the Northeast this weekend, much of the attention will be paid to the Fordham Fiasco at Van Cortlandt Park on Saturday. Chock full of more than two dozen local squads, the team to beat will be the Princeton Tigers of the Ivy League, ranked 11th national among the men and first in the Mid-Atlantic region. Princeton would have to be considered the favorite on the women's side as well, with a No. 22 national ranking and a No. 4 in the mighty Mid-Atlantic.

Fordham's preview reports, "Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee who represents New York's 3rd congressional district, will be the guest speaker and race starter." All runners will also wear special 9/11 commemorative ribbons produced by the Ram cross country team.

In addition to host Fordham among the local entrants are NYU, New York Tech, Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. Francis. The full list of teams is posted on the above link.

Meanwhile the top men's team in the Northeast Region, the Iona Gaels, are off this weekend and will return to host the Meet of Champions at Van Cortlandt next Saturday. The No. 1 women's squad in the region, the Friars of Providence, are staying close to home this weekend, competing at the in-state Bryant Invitational.

The USTFCCCA website is reporting that the nation's top-ranked women's program, the Georgetown Hoyas, will be in action at the Lou Onesty Invitational in Charlotteville, Va., on Saturday. That information is in conflict with the Hoyas' own website, so we will see what happens.

Another meet of interest will be the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover, N.H., which will feature the host Big Green (No. 4 in the Northeast on the men's side) and Boston College (No. 2 in the Northeast for the women).