NEW MARKET, Va. -- The University of Delaware men’s and women’s cross country squads will compete in their biggest event of the season Saturday as the Blue Hens take part in the Colonial Athletic Association Championships host by James Madison University at the New Market Battlefield State Historical Course.

The men’s eight-kilometer race will begin at 10 a.m. with the women’s six-kilometer race following at 11 a.m. Admission to the event is free. Delaware also competed on the same course back on Sept. 12 at the James Madison Open.

Both Delaware teams, led by head coach Jim Fischer, are currently ranked No. 14 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region poll.

The Delaware men placed fourth in the team standings at the CAA meet each of the last two years, improving from a seventh place finish during the 2006 race. Delaware placed fourth in both 2004 and 2005 and enjoyed its best CAA finish in 2001, 2002, and 2003 when UD placed third.

The Hens are led by senior Chris Bourke, who led all UD runners with a 15th place individual finish a year ago after placing 23rd during the 2007 season. Delaware will also by led by Pierce Conlon (22nd in ‘08), Andy Weaver (27th), and Steve Vincent (30th). Nick Pyle placed 16th as a sophomore during the 2007 race. Bourke and Pyle have each led the Hens in two races each this fall. The Hens will be looking to post their first top 10 finish since P.J. Meany was eighth at the 2005 competition.

The Delaware women will be looking to improve upon last year’s fifth place finish after placing an all-time best third in 2001 and finishing fourth in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Senior Julia Somers (at right) has led the Blue Hens this season, pacing the UD pack three times, including a 20th place finish at the JMU meet back in September. She placed 10th overall at the CAA meet in 2006 and was 25th a year ago.

The Hens will also be led by Karen Mandrachia, who finished 34th a year ago, and by sophomore Jessie Ermak, who has posted two fourth place individual finishes this season.

William & Mary will be looking to capture its 10th consecutive men’s title while the Tribe women seek their seventh straight championship. The William & Mary men, led by last year’s CAA third place finisher Jon Grey, are ranked No. 9 nationally. The Tribe women are led by last year’s CAA champion Emily Anderson while Georgia State’s Janel Blancett, who placed second a year ago, also returns.