HARTFORD, Conn. – Middlebury College will host the 2003 NESCAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 1 at the Middlebury Cross Country Course in Middlebury, Vermont.

The Bowdoin men and Williams women prepare to defend their titles with the women’s race beginning at 1:00 p.m. and the men’s race following at 2:00 p.m. The race figures to be highly competitive as two men’s programs and six women’s programs were ranked in the top 25 in the October 21 release of the United States Cross Country Coaches Association Poll. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Pepin Gymnasium at Middlebury.

Defending NCAA National Champion Williams ended a string of four consecutive NESCAC Women’s Championships by Middlebury last year and looks to begin a championship run of its own. NESCAC squads head the women’s top 25 with Middlebury, Trinity, and Williams running one, two, and four respectively in the national poll. Amherst is ranked 8th, Wesleyan 18th, and Bowdoin 25th. The Williams women will be led by sophomore and 2002 NESCAC Rookie of the Year Caroline Cretti and classmate Michelle Rourke. The duo placed first and fourth at the 2002 NESCAC Championships and fifth and sixth at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Middlebury and Trinity also look very strong after tying each other for second at the New England Open Championships two weeks ago.

In the men’s race, the Bowdoin men will look to defend their crown against strong Tufts and Williams squads. Tufts is currently ranked 9th in the national poll and Williams 18th. Tufts returns its top seven runners from last year and is led by junior Nate Brigham, who placed 11th at Nationals last fall. Williams will look to work off of its 12th place finish at the New England Championships two weeks ago, led by sophomore and reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Year Neal Holtschulte.

The Middlebury cross-country course is considered one of the most scenic in New England. The first mile winds around the College athletic fields and then joins the Red Kelly Trail, which follows the perimeter of the College’s golf course. The course consists of moderately rolling terrain with several steep hills. The surface of the course is grass, dirt, and wood chips, and is acknowledged by visiting coaches as one of the best in New England.