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American Picked to Repeat in Men’s Cross Country
Army and Navy expected to challenge Eagles for Patriot League crown

September 2, 2003

Matt Seymour and the men's cross country squad aim for their second consecutive Patriot League title.

WASHINGTON — After capturing the Patriot League Cross Country Championship in dominating fashion last year, the American University men’s cross country team was selected first in the 2003 Patriot League preseason poll of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. The Eagles earned nine first-place votes and 91 points. Navy and Army tied for second, both with 79 points.

AU returns five All-Patriot League cross country performers from last year as the squad loses only two runners. Senior Matt Seymour (Rockville, Md./Magruder) was the runner-up in last year’s championship while junior Sean Duffy (Holmes, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara) claimed fifth.

Also returning for the Eagles is senior Frank Malpigli (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) and junior Pat MacAdie (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxboro Regional) who placed eighth and ninth, respectively, at the 2002 Patriot League Championships. Sophomore Phil Gaeta (Herndon, Va./Oakton) earned all-league second team recognition after finishing 19th at the meet.

Army finished as the runner-up in last year’s meet. Navy makes its first appearance in the Patriot League Cross Country Championship after previously competing in the Heptagonal Championships. American opens the season September 20th at the Navy Invitational.

American University, which fields a 19-sport NCAA Division I athletics program featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men, is in its third year of membership in the Patriot League. Since joining the Patriot League, the University has captured league championships in men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball, and a regular-season title in men’s basketball.

Chartered by an Act of Congress in 1893, American University features students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 160 nations worldwide.

2003 Patriot League Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll