CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia cross country teams travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. this weekend to compete in the first Atlantic Coast Conference Championships of the 2008-09 year. The 54th ACC Cross Country Championships take place on the Ranson-Hamrick Cross Country Course at Finley Golf Course, with the women taking the line at 10 a.m. for a 6k race and the men’s 8k race starting at 11 a.m.

The men’s team is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Pre-NCAA meet and is looking for its third ACC Championship in the past four seasons. The Cavaliers are ranked 14th nationally and enter the race as the highest ranked team in the region, and the league.

Having won on their home course at Panorama Farms last October, the Cavaliers look to defend their title this year. Although NC State’s Chris Kollar won the race, Virginia had three runners finish within five seconds of each other to place second, third and fourth.  Fourth-year Andy Biladeau finished runner-up, followed by fifth-year Ryan Foster and second-year Emil Heineking, who earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors with his fourth-place finish.

The women’s team goes into the weekend facing stiff competition. Defending ACC individual champion Susan Kuijken will look to lead Florida State to its second-consecutive team victory, while the Cavaliers will look to improve upon their eighth-place finish.

The women have had a strong showing this season and are looking for the upcoming meet.  Third-year Stephanie Garcia was the women’s top finisher in the pre-NCAA meet, placing 18th overall, while first-year Morgane Gay finished second for the team. Fourth-year Lauretta Dezubay earned individual honors at Virginia’s first two meets this season.

Following the ACC Championships, the Cavaliers will return home for the Cavalier Open at Panorama Farms, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7. Start time is slated for 4 p.m.