Nov. 21, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University cross country team received two honors from the U.S. Track & Field / Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Thursday when it was announced that in just his second year as Director of Track & Field / Cross Country, Patrick Henner was named the Cross Country Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. Junior Andrew Bumbalough (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood Academy) was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year after a stellar season that saw him win the individual titles at the Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Regional Championships and the BIG EAST Conference Championship; Bumbalough led the Hoyas to both team titles as well.

In his second year as the Director of Georgetown Track & Field / Cross Country, Henner was at the helm of the eighth-ranked men's cross country program that has been tabbed the top team in the Mid-Atlantic Region since the preseason poll. The Hoyas totaled a mere 24 points to win the Mid-Atlantic Regional, a close race that saw the top-three runners finish just two seconds apart. At the BIG EAST Conference Championship, Henner's team took five of the top-10 spots to dominate the field and solidify its place as No. 1 in the BIG EAST.

"Its an honor to be recognized by the USTFCCCA," Henner said. "I am fortunate to be surrounded by a great group of coaches and we are privileged to have student-athletes who have worked extremely hard all season."

Bumbalough has had an amazing start to the 2008-09 season. Most recently, he won a close Mid-Atlantic Regional race that saw the top-three runners finish just two seconds apart as the Hoyas won the team title. His performance at the BIG EAST Championship, held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, was nothing short of amazing as he ran the second-fastest course time and won the individual title easily as the Hoyas took the BIG EAST Conference crown.

"I think it's definitely an honor to be named the Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year," Bumbalough said. "It's a great start to the year and I see it as more of a stepping stone for the year as a whole - through the track & field seasons and culminating at this year's U.S. Track & Field Championships."

The Hoyas will be traveling to Terre Haute, Ind., for the NCAA Cross Country Championship on Monday, November 24. The men are sending 10 student-athletes while the women's team will send seven.

"We're focused on having a good team race," Bumbalough said, with regard to the NCAA Championships. "With the team's success in mind and as I focus on my own individual goals, I really think Georgetown can have a successful run at NCAA's."

The men's and women's races will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports from noon-1:30 p.m. as well as a live video stream on www.ncaa.com.

The All-American format has changed this year as the top-40 finishers in both the men's and women's races will earn All-America honors.

On Saturday, November 22, the Hoyas who will not be traveling to Terre Haute will be competing for the ECAC/IC4A Championship. Donning the blue and gray at the race will be six male student-athletes and eight female student-athletes.