Official Mid-Atlantic Regional Site

PRINCETON, N.J. (11/7/12) - The Princeton men's cross country team will race in the 2012 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Friday, Nov. 9. The event is hosted by Penn State in University Park, Pa. The men's 10k race begins at 1:15 p.m.

The top two teams from each regional will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. In addition, 13 at-large teams will be selected. Thirty-six individuals automatically qualify by being one of the top four regional finishers not on an advancing team, with two additional individuals chosen by the committee.

The Tigers took third at Regionals last year, and won in 2010 the last time the meet was held at Penn State. Princeton returns four of its five scorers from last year, but lost the Regional champion Donn Cabral to graduation. The Ivy League champion Chris Bendsten will push for a regional title. He was 12th at Regionals one year ago. Classmate Alejandro Arroyo Yamin, who was the runner-up at Heps, was also a scorer last year finishing in the top-25. Sophomore Eddie Owens and junior Tyler Udland were also scorers at Regionals last year. Other contenders include junior Jonathan Vitez, sophomore Matt McDonald and sophomore Sam Pons.

Princeton has experience on this course having run the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 8. The Tigers won that meet with Arroyo Yamin crossing the line first. Owens, Bendtsen and Udland went 3-4-5.

The Tigers are ranked No. 13 in the nation and has been No. 1 in the region all season. Princeton's biggest threats at the regional include Georgetown, last year's winner and ranked No. 24 in the national poll. Villanova, which was second last year, and the host school Penn State will also push the Tigers.

Princeton has been in the NCAA Championships as a team 12 times and had its highest finish just two years ago, taking 12th in 2010.