It has been non-stop action for the UDM men's and women's cross country teams as the Titans get ready for their third straight week of competition when they take part in the 30th Annual National Catholic Championships on Friday in Sound Bend, IN.

The men's team is looking to repeat the success they had at last year's meet, when UDM had its best showing in more then 10 years finishing sixth with 175 points.

Detroit had two runners place in the top 20 and four in the top 50 in the historic 8k race, and return three of those harriers to the squad this season, led by junior Patrick Liederbach (Petoskey, MI/Petoskey) who took 14th with a time of 25:45. Sophomore, and last week's top finisher, Alex Vanias (Leroy, MI/Pine River) was 34th in 26:28 in what was his first collegiate 8k event, while junior Alex Harris (Huntington Woods, MI/Shrine) was 42nd with a time of 26:36.

The women's team showed remarkable improvement in the 2008 race and will now look to continue the momentum they have built to start the year with another great performance. The Titans placed 15th with a 473 team score in the 5k last year.

Three of the Titans top four harriers from that run will be back. Sophomore Kristina Arko (Euclid, OH/Euclid) topped the team last season with a time of 19:50 for 77th place, while classmate Stephanie Rossman (Caledonia, MI/Caledonia) was 100th in 20:13. Junior Kristie Ferrans (Carleton, MI/Monroe) earned 106th in 20:23, a time that was 55 seconds better then her freshman year.

The event will begin at 4:15 p.m. with the women's run followed by the men's championship at 5 p.m. at the Notre Dame Golf Course.