Sept. 9, 2005

USC's women's cross country team will compete in its first team competition at the UC Irvines Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 9 a.m., in Huntington Beach's Central Park.

Senior captain Kate Neeper, USC's top runner, will participate in her first cross country race since November of 2003, when she placed 40th at the Pac-10 Championships. She missed the 2004 cross country season due to injury. Junior Kristen Berglas, freshman Megan Kelly and sophomore Sara Fusco will make their 2005 cross country debuts. Christina Eads, who led the Women of Troy at Fullerton last week, will look to improve on last week's time of 20:13.

"This is our chance to see where everybody is at," said USC Coach Tom Walsh. "Training is one thing but racing is another. I want to see how everybody is able to respond."

Neeper and Berglas should lead the way while Kelly, Eads and Fusco will work on pack racing to earn crucial points for the team, since all five runners will be scoring.

Walsh's goal for the team is to place in the top five out of the 12 schools that are entered. The 5,000-meter course in Central Park challenging and will provide a chance to see which runners step up.

Treani Swain, Laura Strachan and Sara Sisco will compete for the first time this season in the Trojans next meet in the Pepperdine Invitational on Sept. 24 in Malibu, Calif.

RESULTS: Final results of both races will be posted on http://www.trackcc.uci.edu/, midday Saturday, as well as at http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/.

DIRECTIONS TO CENTRAL PARK IN HUNTINGTON BEACH FROM THE NORTH: 405 Freeway south to Golden West Avenue, exit at Golden West and go south for approximately 3 miles to Slater Avenue. Turn RIGHT on Slater and proceed to Edwards Avenue (1/2 mile). Turn LEFT on Edwards and proceed to Central Park Avenue (1/2 mile). Turn LEFT on Central Park Avenue and the park will be straight ahead. Parking is free.

FROM THE SOUTH: 405 Freeway north to Golden West Avenue , exit at Golden West and move to the left-turn lane as soon as possible. Turn LEFT on Golden West and go south for approximately 3 miles to Slater Avenue. Turn RIGHT on Slater and proceed to Edwards Avenue (1/2 mile). Turn LEFT on Edwards and proceed to Central Park Avenue (1/2 mile). Turn LEFT on Central Park Avenue and the park will be straight ahead. Parking is free.

FROM NEWPORT BEACH: Take Pacific Coast Highway north to Huntington Beach . Turn RIGHT on Golden West Avenue and proceed to Ellis Avenue (2 miles). Turn LEFT on Ellis and proceed to Edwards Avenue (1/2 mile). Turn RIGHT on Edwards and proceed to Central Park Avenue (1/2 mile). Turn RIGHT on Central Park Avenue and the park will be straight ahead. Parking is free.