Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Long Island University men's and women's cross country squads will open their 2009 campaigns Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Monmouth Cross Country Kick-Off at Thompson Park in Lincroft, N.J. Both Blackbird teams were predicted to finish 10th in the Northeast Conference by a league-wide vote of coaches.

 

The men's team will be led by senior Dan Renahan. The Coram, N.Y., native earned All-NEC honors in 2008 after posting a time of 27:20.1 to finish 14th overall. Rehanan has been Long Island's most consistent cross-country performer with top-20 performances at the conference championships in each of the last two years.

 

LIU returns several veterans in 2009, including seniors Julius Mutekanga and Sheldon Goffe. The classmates were the Blackbirds' second and third finishers at the conference championships, respectively. Bolstering the roster will be juniors Samuel Egadu, Vincent Gangemi and Elmo Neckles.

 

Long Island's women look to improve on a ninth place finish in the 2008 NEC Championships. The Blackbirds return senior Selina Munoz, who was victorious at the NJIT Cross Country Classic. Junior Conley posted the second-best finish for Long Island runners at the conference championships at year ago.

 

Junior Robin Renahan brings two years of experience to the squad and freshman Nicolle Franklin returns for her sophomore campaign.

 

The 2009 NEC Women's Cross Country Championship will be held at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 31.