CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Following a long break after the last meet, the Virginia men’s and women’s cross-country teams head to northern Virginia on Saturday to compete in the George Mason Invitational. The meet is held at Bull Run Regional Park on an all grass 2000m course, with two brief gravel road crossings per loop. Races will begin with the men at 10 a.m.

The Virginia men’s cross-country team is ranked 12th in the national poll, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The men finished last season 12th at the NCAA Championships and are the top ranked team in the poll coming out of the Southeast Region this year. The women ranked seventh in the region to begin the season and received votes in the national preseason poll.

Both teams opened the season successfully, sweeping the top three individual places at the Lou Onesty Invitational last month. Third-year Trey Miller won the individual title for the men, while fourth-year Lauretta Dezubay claimed the title for the women.

All-American Emil Heineking and All-ACC performers Andy Biladeau and Ryan Foster headline a corps that returns five of its seven performers at the NCAA Championships a year ago. The trio also led the Cavaliers to a dominating finish at the ACC Championships last season, finishing 2-3-4, en route to the conference title. Heineking was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and is the top returning Cavalier from the 2007 national championships.

The women’s side welcomes back All-American Katie Read, who redshirted last season. Read will be joined by Dezubay, Stephanie Garcia and Sara Casscells to pace a young and enthusiastic Virginia squad coming off an injury-plagued season.

The teams are looking forward to the race, having used their break to hone their training and adjust further to the presence of new coach Jason Vigilante. Competition will continue following the weekend on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Terre Haute, Ind.