The 2011 Emory University men's and women's cross country teams will get a taste competition on Friday (Aug. 26) afternoon when they venture to nearby Piedmont Park for a time trial against Berry College.  Action is scheduled to begin between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.  The women will take part in a three-mile trial while the men's squad will race four miles.

Head Coach John Curtin and the women's squad are ranked 24^th nationally among Division III teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. In addition, that organization has pegged the Eagles as the No. 1 squad in the South/Southeast Region.  Leading the way for this year's team will be senior Tess Gallegos (Kennesaw, GA), tabbed as the South/Southeast Region Athlete of the Year in 2010, classmate Sara Gelb (Fort Myers, FL), an all-region performer last season, and junior Melanie Frank  (Novelty, OH), who finished among the squad's top three runners in six meets last season and who also claimed all-region accolades.  The women's team has made six straight appearances in the NCAA Division III Championships and is coming off a 26^th-place finish in 2010.

The men's side holds down the No. 4 in the South/Southeast Region and will aiming to return to nationals this season after seeing a three-year streak of competing in that event snapped last year.  After going through a major rebuilding process in 2010, a dozen letterwinners are back in the fold including junior Stephen Ellwood (Princeton Junction, NJ), an all-region runner last season.  Senior Geraint Davies (Clarence, NY) is hoping for a big season after scoring in all seven of his competitions last year.  Other vets expected to provide consistent results include junior Scott Jarvis (Lilburn, GA) and senior Tim Halinski (Milton, GA).