Sept. 1, 2006

Complete Results

EMMITSBURG, Md. - The American University cross country teams rose above the competition and wet and windy conditions to sweep the individual titles at the Mt. St. Mary's Duals Friday evening. Led by the 1-2-3 finish of Kate Lilley (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's), Meghan Mason (State College, Pa./State College) and Cathleen Ford (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall Central) the women's team went 4-0, while the men went 3-1 led by Dan Beardslee's (Waban, Mass./Newton South) individual title.

American's top three of Lilley, Mason and Ford went to the front of the race immediately and pulled away from the field. Into the second and third miles, Lilley outdistanced her fellow Eagles and cruised to the 43 second win in 18:57 - her first collegiate cross country win. Mason and Ford took second and third at 19:40 and 19:52, respectively. Freshman Danielle Loughrey took 17th and senior Ashley Dellinger (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) was 21st to round out the scoring for American and top teams from Mt. St. Mary's, George Washington, Loyola and UMBC.

"The girls showed a lot of confidence going to the front before the first mile and just running away with it," head coach Matt Centrowitz said. "It's a very, very good start to do so well in such adverse conditions."

The men's team also captured an individual title as Beardslee sat in with the leaders until pulling away with just over 1000 meters to go for the four second win. It was Beardslee's second collegiate cross country win. Behind him, American's Dustin Emrani (Great Neck, N.Y./Great Neck North) and Brandon Laks (Solon, Ohio/Solon) took fifth and sixth at 16:27 and 16:31, respectively. Freshman Gregory Leach and senior Alex Caudana (Irvine, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) finished the scoring for AU taking 15th and 16th in 16:49 and 16:54, apiece. Their effort was enough was enough to defeat George Washington, Loyola and UMBC, but could not overcome the host school Mt. St. Mary's.

"Dan looked stronger every mile," Centrowitz said. "He was up in front with the leaders for most of the race then pulled away with ease in the last mile."

The Eagles return to the hill and dale next weekend at the Great Meadows Invitational on Saturday.