NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware women’s cross country team has been picked No. 11 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association pre-season Mid-Atlantic Region poll announced earlier this week.

Both the Blue Hen men’s and women’s cross country teams will host the annual Delaware Invitational this Saturday, Sept. 20, at White Clay Creek State Park. The men’s race will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by the women’s race at 11:15 a.m.

In addition to Delaware, also competing at the meet will be Clemson, Delaware State, Navy (men only), Rowan, Rutgers-Newark, Stockton, and Towson (women only). The Delaware men placed second a year ago while the women finished third.

Princeton was the No. 1 pick in the Mid-Atlantic Region women’s poll followed by West Virginia, Georgetown, Penn State, Villanova, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rutgers, Navy, LaSalle, Delaware, Duquesne, Bucknell, Monmouth, and Saint Joseph’s.

Other regional No. 1 picks were Michigan State (Great Lakes), Minnesota (Midwest), Colorado State (Mountain), Providence (Northeast), Florida State (South), Arkansas (South Central), Duke (Southeast), and Oregon (West).

The Delaware women were ranked as high as No. 10 in the regional poll last season while the Delaware men were picked as high as No. 12.

The Delaware men were not ranked in this year’s pre-season poll.

Nick Pyle (at right) is a Blue Hen co-captain.