Olympian Duane Solomon to appear at St. Xavier Invitational Student-athletes will meet US Champion at 34th edition of southwest Ohio's biggest cross country event, now sponsored by Saucony and Fleet Feet Sports CINCINNATI, OH - 25 September 2013 One of the biggest high school running events in the Midwest is getting a big name visitor this Saturday, when reigning American champion and Olympic 4th-place finisher Duane Solomon visits the St. Xavier Invitational presented by Saucony and Fleet Feet Sports. At one of the premier scholastic running events in southwest Ohio, the Saucony-sponsored athlete will connect with the future of the sport, signing autographs and presenting the awards to the day's top competitors. "For us, one of the key values is simply promoting the sport," said Tony Brancaleone of Saucony. "Most pro distance runners start out running cross country. It's one of the most pure races there is." This will be the 34th Annual St. Xavier Invitational, which has grown from a small weekday meet into one of the largest cross country events in the region. In 2013, ten races will see upwards of 2700 runners from 70 teams and four states traverse St. Xavier's 110-acre campus. "Our goal every year is to put on a well-run meet with a great atmosphere," said St. Xavier head coach, Mike Dehring. "Saucony, Duane Solomon, and Fleet Feet are helping us do that in a big way this year." Solomon - a national-caliber talent at the University of Southern California before becoming the second-fastest 800 runner in US history - will be in attendance on a day headlined by two national-caliber talents in the Girls D1 race: junior Annie Heffernan of St. Ursula and senior Jacquelyn Crow of Lebanon. Heffernan had one of the best 2013 track seasons in America, earning a state title and record in the 3200, as well as a national runner-up finish in the two-mile at the NBON Championships. Over the last 16 months, Crow is one of only four Ohioans to have defeated the St. Ursula phenom. The senior star from Lebanon is the reigning state champion in cross country (Heffernan was 3rd), and is the #7 returner at Foot Locker Midwest, after finishing 13th in 2012. There, Heffernan placed 21st and is the #12 returner, making both favorites for a Top 10 finish and qualification to the national championships. St. Xavier will headline the boys' race as the #10-ranked team in America, while Defiance (Ohio D2 #2) looks to challenge the host Bombers. Weather permitting, St. X senior Michael Hall could have a chance to make meet history, after lowering the course record to 15:26 last year. At last week's Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational, Hall broke a school record by running 15:10, the #22 performance in America this year.