Cross Country Teams to Face Stiff Tests at Auburn’s Tiger Invitational

Oct. 2, 2008

Clemson, SC – The Tigers’ regionally ranked cross country teams will be in action this Saturday in Auburn, AL at the Tiger Invitational. The meet will be held at Indian Pines Golf Course, with the women’s 5K race featuring 24 teams and the men’s 8K competition consisting of 27 squads. The women’s race is scheduled for 9:30 AM (CDT), while the men’s race will start at 10:15.

Several nationally-ranked teams will be in action, thus giving Clemson its toughest test to date for the cross country season. The top-ranked team this weekend will be the Washington Huskies women’s team, listed #2 nationally in the latest coaches’ poll. Right behind them at #3 is Florida State, who raced against Clemson’s women earlier this season in Boone, NC. The Seminole men are also ranked, coming in at 26th in the latest poll. Other ranked teams in action Saturday will be Auburn (#21 men) and Iowa (#27 women).

The Clemson women’s team, ranked 13th in the latest Southeast Region poll, is coming off a first-place finish in back-to-back competitions. First, the team won the Eye Opener on September 6 at USC Upstate. Most recently, Clemson won the Delaware Invitational on September 20.

Jenna Baker has been the team’s top performer through three meets this season. She is coming off her first-ever collegiate individual title last time out at Delaware. Baker ran a time of 18:27 on the rolling 5K course. She held off Delaware native Joanie Castagno in that meet, who finished with a career-best time of 18:28 over the 5000 meters.

Lilla Fördos will be one of 13 making the trip this weekend for the Clemson women’s team. Fördos red-shirted the 2008 track season after sustaining a foot injury, but the native of Keszthely, Hungary will be making her collegiate debut Saturday. The Tiger men’s team is ranked #14 in the region and is also coming off a first-place finish at the Delaware Invitational. Senior captain Sam Bryfczynski won that event, taking home his second individual collegiate title and first since his sophomore season. He leads Clemson’s group of eight that will be competing for the men’s title this weekend. Will Noble, a co-captain, is coming off a career-best second-place finish at Delaware.