SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The No. 18 Shippensburg University men's cross country team will compete for its second NCAA Atlantic regional title in three years on Saturday morning from Cooper's Lake Campground outside of Slippery Rock as it seeks a Top 3 finish and a berth to the NCAA National Championships in two weeks.

Shippensburg maintains its No. 2 slot in the Atlantic Regional rankings between No. 8 Edinboro and No. 23 Lock Haven but will be taking to the course with just two runners who have ever competed in a NCAA regional championship race. The Raiders had a senior-heavy lineup last season and will need contributions from its No. 3 through No. 5 runners similar to the PSAC championship meet if they are to have success.

Ironically, it was the Shippensburg performance in last year's national championship race that has made this weekend's meet all the more intriguing. By finishing seventh overall in 2010, the Atlantic Region will now send its top three teams to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships on November 19, hosted this year by the GNAC from Spokane, Washington.

Senior Stephen Schelander and junior Matt Gillette both finished in the Top 5 and will be competing with a bevy of talented runners, including Lock Haven's Alex Monroe (PSAC champion), Edinboro All-American Scott Anderson, California's Aaron Dinzeo, Millersville's James McBride, Slippery Rock's Travis Arrigoni and ESU's Frank Fezza.

Schelander and Gillette are the only two scheduled runners for Shippensburg that have completed a 10K cross country race in their collegiate career.

Schools from the PSAC, WVIAC and CIAA are all in competition this weekend. Seton Hill won the WVIAC championship by one point over Wheeling Jesuit, with WJU runner Stewart Jones (26:05) earning the individual championship. The CIAA ran a five-mile race for its conference championship meet, with Shaw edging Winston-Salem State by three points for the team title. WSSU runner Andrew Chebii (24:32) posted a 68-second victory over Shaw's Brandon Jones.

Shippensburg Lineup:

Senior Stephen Schelander has paced the Raiders all season as its No. 1 runner and did so again two weeks ago with a third-place effort at the PSAC meet and a 10-second PR of 24:37. The All-PSAC and All-Region runner is maintaining an outstanding pace for the Raiders and is seeking his highest-ever finish at the regional championship meet after placing eighth in 2010 (31:55 for the 10K).

Junior Matt Gillette is a solid runner who also boasts All-PSAC and All-Region credentials. The 1,500-meter track All-American is looking for another all-region effort after a 10th-place finish a year ago. Gillette, who trimmed one second off his 8K PR at the PSAC meet, is looking to establish a new 10K PR and get another chance to become a cross country All-American.

Senior Eric Evans made his statement at the conference meet with his first-ever All-PSAC designation and a 20th-place finish. His time of 25:35 was a new PR by 69 seconds and an improvement of nine spots from last year's conference championship meet.

Senior Wade Miller ran his fourth-ever collegiate 8K for Shippensburg two weeks ago and provided a courageous performance that resulted in a 17th-place finish in 25:29. Miller, in his second year with Shippensburg after transferring from Hagerstown Community College (Md.), erased 93 seconds off his 8K PR.

Freshman Bernard England is one of three freshmen that will be racing this weekend for the Raiders. England had a gutsy performance at the PSAC championship meet as SU's No. 5 runner that helped secure the team a second-place trophy.  His 35th-place finish in 26:00 was a new PR by 71 seconds.

Redshirt freshman Scott Armstrong has the potential for great success. In his debut cross country season, Armstrong has emerged as a strong runner for the Raiders – especially after establishing an 8K PR of 26:47 at the Paul Short Run. He was 56th at the PSAC meet with an 8-second PR.

Freshman Peter Gelston is another true freshman who will compete this weekend for the Raiders. Gelston placed 46th at the conference meet with a time of 26:25 that was a 54-second PR.

Senior Greg Ahlswede is the team's alternate this weekend and has been running well heading into the regional meet. He broke his 8K PR by 45 seconds at the PSAC meet and was SU's top runner at last week's LHU River Run, posting a time of 26:41 that trimmed three more seconds off his PR.