Following two weeks off after the Liberty League Championships, the Clarkson University Cross Country team will compete in the biggest event of its season on Saturday, the NCAA Atlantic Regionals. Hosted by SUNY Geneseo at Letchworth State Park, the Golden Knights men and women will send 16 runners to compete among 750 in a pair of races in hopes of attending the NCAA National Championships.

The Golden Knights men's contingent will include eight runners in senior Ryan Ash (Glens Falls, NY), sophomore John Bell (Marcellus, NY), sophomore Jacob Dowman (Essex, VT), senior Dan Fritz (Cicero, NY), graduate student Andrew Klem (Dalton, MA), junior Adam Merkwan (Meredith, NH), freshman Lukas Patrizio (Port Chester, NY), and senior Phillip Spinosa (Spencerport, NY). Running the 6,000-meters for the Clarkson women will be senior Erin Corrigan (Remsen, NY), sophomore Chelsea Farinacci (Huntington, NY), sophomore Ashley Forshey (Scotia, NY), junior Sarah Governale (Wading River, NY), sophomore Lindsey McCormick (Gouverneur, NY), senior Fiona Recchia (Latham, NY), senior Natalie Worley (Williamsville, NY) and senior Catherine Zarnofsky (Glenville, NY).

The Golden Knights' men finished in 15th out of 44 teams last year, and 40-plus teams will once again be competing with 382 runners scheduled to participate. Dan Fritz led the way by taking 41st overall with a time of 26 minutes, 24 seconds in the 8,000-meter race. Adam Merkwan was the next of the Clarkson returning runners, taking 99th in 27:16.1. Only Ryan Ash and John Bell competed in the NCAA Atlantic Regionals, held at Genesee Valley Park last year, last year. Ash came in 152nd and Bell finished 206th.

The Clarkson women finished 26th among 39 teams last season, and 368 runners are expected for this year's race. Sarah Governale was the top finisher for the Knights in 2012, placing 72nd overall with a time of 23:43.8 in the 6K. Senior Catherine Zarnofsky placed 126th in 24:27.2 and Chelsea Farinacci took 171st in 25:15.4.