Sept. 23, 2006

Hoover, Ala. - Junior Gian Caccia led a very impressive Loyola performance at the Great American Cross Country Festival at Hoover, Ala. on Saturday morning. Caccia led the Greyhound men to a second-place tie while senior Andrea Rovegno led the women to a third place finish at the nationally competitive event.

"Our men and women both ran great races today," says Loyola Cross Country Coach Rick Woods. "The Great American Cross Country Festival is a big event, and our performance today was one of Loyola's best against this type of competition in recent memory."

Both the men and women competed in the top division, the Nike Race of Champions, battling very hot and humid conditions. Caccia led the way for the men, placing third overall while four Greyhounds placed in the Top-25 to give Loyola 94 team points.

Junior Brian Parker finished 15th, sophomore Chris Heibell placed 20th and freshman Terry Moran placed 23rd overall. Sophomore Keith Forlenza rounded out the Loyola scoring with a 33rd-place showing. The Greyhounds tied Florida Southern while Central Michigan won the men's race.

On the women's side, Rovegno again led the way, placing 10th overall. A very strong field, which included BYU, Clemson, Florida State and South Carolina to name a few, was tightly contested. Only 18 points separated 3rd place from eighth, with the Greyhounds topping that list.

"Our women worked together," adds Coach Woods. "We had a tight group stay together and they helped us take third in this strong field."

It was senior Colleen Depman who led that pack, placing 31st overall. Senior Sarah Spencer was right behind Depman at 35th while senior Michelle McVann and sophomore Maureen Wynne placed 41st and 43rd respectively.

Loyola returns to action next Saturday, September 30 at the Iona Meet of Champions in Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y.