ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y.- The St. Bonaventure men's and women's cross country teams begin their 2011 campaigns this Friday at the Mount St. Mary's 5K Duals in Emmitsburg, Md.

The Bonnies will join a field of seven teams at the event, including fellow Atlantic 10 school George Washington, American, George Mason, Maryland, UMBC and the meet's host, Mount St. Mary's. It will mark the first time the Bonnies have participated in the event.

Head coach Bob Macfarlane returns for his second season at the helm of both programs, along with assistants Bob Ring, Tammy Putt and Chris Wood.

The men's team features just one upperclassman this season in junior Adam McDermott, who enters the season after shaving three minutes off of his personal best at the Atlantic 10 Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa. last October.
Captains Terence Petty and Kyle Wilkinson – both sophomores – lead a team which features seven freshmen this season.

On the women's side, captain Elizabeth Moran – joining Catie Greene as one of two seniors on the team --  returns to the Brown and White after leading the team in three of six events last season. The Bonnies boast seven freshmen on this season's 11-women squad.

After Friday's event, both teams will return to action at the UB Stampede Invitational in Buffalo on Sept. 17.