TOWSON, Md. - Towson cross country coach Roger Erricker knows his squad has more in the tank than it has shown the last couple of weeks of the season and hopes the Tigers pick up the pace when they join the rest of the conference teams for the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Meet this Saturday at the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park in New Market, Va.

"Our last couple of meets have been disappointing," said Erricker, "but we've had a good two weeks of practice since. If we compete like we did in the first three meets of the season we should do well."

The Tigers had two first place finishes and a second in their first three meets before running into stiffer competition at the huge Paul Short Invitational (33^rd out of 40 teams) and Delaware's Blue & Gold Invitational where they were third but had a chance to place higher.

William & Mary is looking to capture its 7^th straight women's CAA title. James Madison appears to be a solid second. Georgia State and Northeastern could be the next two in.

"From that point, though, it's anyone else's race," said Erricker. "We could finish anywhere from fourth to eighth."

The last time Towson ran this course was in 2004. The Tigers finished fourth as a team. Megan Lerch placed 7^th overall to earn All-CAA honors (top 12 individual runners earn All-Conference honors).

Erricker expects juniors Lindsay Warfield and Brandi Gervais plus sophomore Liya Kasimova to lead the way for the Tigers. Kasimova was Towson's top runner in this event last year, finishing 27^th.

Two years ago, as a freshman, Katie Ogden crossed first for the Tigers in 20^th. Ogden sat out last year with a stress fracture. She returned to the lineup this season but not in the form that made her Towson's top harrier in 2007.

Senior captain Megan DiGregorio and sophomore Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue should also be in the hunt for the Tigers.

The race gets underway at 11:00 am. Admission is free to the championship. Directions are listed below.

FROM POINTS NORTH:

• 81 South
• Exit 264 (New Market Exit)
• Turn right at the end of the ramp, take the first right.
• Follow the road to the end - which puts you in the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park.
• As you enter the park, the road veers to the left, however you take the very sharp right and follow the road to the end where the parking is for the meet.

FROM  POINTS SOUTH:

• 81 North
• Exit 264 (New Market Exit)
• Turn left at the end of the ramp, go under 81 and take the first permissible right (the first right is the off ramp for 81 South - so do not take it as it is one way the wrong way for you).
• Follow the road to the end - which puts you in the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park.
• As you enter the park, the road veers to the left, however you take the very sharp right and follow the road to the end where the parking is for the meet.

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