GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina men's and women's cross country teams will open their 2003 seasons on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Elon-High Point Invitational in Greensboro. The Pirates will compete alongside 19 other institutions from North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, including 2002 N.C Intercollegiate Men's Cross Country champion High Point. Both the ECU men's and women's team finished second at the Invitational in 2002.

"This is a good opening meet for us," said head coach Len Klepack. "We have a very young team this season and we want to bring them along gradually and learn how to peak at the right time at the end of October for the conference and regional meets."

Juniors Matt Gorman, Matt Hanlon and Kyle MacKenzie will lead ECU into competition this weekend. MacKenzie, owner of three of the top 10 fastest 8K times in school history, finished second at the Elon-High Point Invitational last year and is set to finish one position higher in 2003. Also making the trip to the Piedmont this weekend are freshmen James McLellan, Michael Stoop, Keith Ulrick and senior Ron Delzer.

"This will be a good meet for our younger runners because it will give them the opportunity to learn how to race at the collegiate level. It'll be the first time that they have run beyond a 5K."

Similar to their male counterparts, the Lady Pirates also field a young, but talented group of student-athletes. Sophomore Caitlin Littlefield, who competed in the most of meets of any returning runner on the ladies' side, will lead a team of five into this weekend's meet. Fellow sophomore Jessica Collins finished in the top 15 at last year's Invitational and hope to move into the top 10 Saturday. Junior Lillian Ricardo also gives ECU the chance to place another top 10 finisher.

Redshirt freshman Megan Walling and true freshman Jenna Prendergast will see their first collegiate action on Saturday.

"This weekend's meet will allow our girls to get adjust to a bigger field," stated Klepack. "The numbers are greater on the collegiate level and it is much more competitive than high school, so I'm looking forward to see how they adjust to the environment."

Saturday's meet will be the first of eight meets run by East Carolina in 2003.