July 8, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The two-time defending Patriot League champion Navy men's cross country program released its 2010 schedule today (July 8th). The slate includes two home meets as the Mids will host the annual Navy Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 18 and then take on Army on Saturday, Oct. 16.

"This season, we have the best returning team we've had here in the last 15 years," said Al Cantello, who will be entering his 43rd season as head coach of the Midshipmen. "To replicate what we did last year will be tough because everyone else will be better, but, we'll be better, too."

Navy will be led by senior, and Patriot League Runner-of-the-Year, Andrew Hanko, who led the Mids in all seven of the events he competed in last fall. Hanko finished first on three occasions last season.

The Midshipmen begin the 2010 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 4 with the UMES Invitational in Princess Anne, Md. Navy will then head to University Park, Pa., for the Harry Groves Invitational at Penn State University on Saturday, Sept. 11.

After hosting the Navy Invitational on Sept. 18, the Mids will head to the University of Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn., on Sept. 25. The Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. on Friday, Oct. 1 will mark five consecutive weeks of competition before the Mids have the week off prior to hosting Army on Oct. 16.

The dual with Army will serve as the final regular-season meet as the Mids will travel to Easton, Pa., for the Patriot League Championship on Saturday, Oct. 30.

The NCAA Region II Championship will be hosted by Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 13. The top two finishers from each of the nine regions around the nation automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships, held Monday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Times for all meets will be posted once they have been determined.