UTICA, NY – After winning its first-ever North Eastern Athletic Conference Championship, the SUNYIT men's cross country team will now head to the campus of Oneonta State to compete in the 2010 NCAA Atlantic Region Championships this Saturday.

The Wildcats had four of the top five individual finishers at the NEAC Championships two weeks ago, beating the field of nine teams with 32 points to earn a spot in this weekend's championship race. 

The team is led by head coach Bill Tylutki, who was named the NEAC Coach of the Year after guiding SUNYIT to the NEAC title in addition to three second place finishes and one third place finish this season.  The Wildcats also boast four All-Conference First Team runners in seniors Ryan Darling (Jordan, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) and Chris Senez (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), junior Robert Doss (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) and freshman Chris Wicks (Syracuse, NY/Baker), while junior David Culbertson (Rome, NY/Smithfield-Selma) and freshman Dylan Parry (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) both earned All-Conference Third Team honors as well.

There will be over 600 men and women from over 40 colleges and universities participating in the Atlantic Region Championships.  The race will be held at Fortin Park in Oneonta, NY, and spectators should plan on arriving to the event before 10:30 am.  There is a charge of $5 per car for the event. 

Start time for the men's race is scheduled for 11:00 am.