Dec. 6, 2005

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville track and field/cross country signee Michael Eaton continued his impressive fall racing season by winning the Foot Locker South Region Championship on Nov. 26 in Charlotte, N.C., to qualify for Saturday's 27th Annual Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego, Calif.

Eaton, a senior at Greenwood High School who signed with the Cards during the early signing period in November, won the South Region race with a time of 14 minutes, 46 seconds across the 5-kilometer course at McAlpine Park. This marks the second straight year Eaton has qualified for the Foot Locker National Championship race, which includes the Top 10 finishers from each of the four regional races, after he finished eighth in the South region as a junior.

"We're excited to have an athlete of Michael's ability and character joining our team at the University of Louisville," said Cardinal head coach Ron Mann. "We certainly wish him the best of luck this weekend in San Diego."

Eaton is currently the top ranked prep athlete in the nation in the 5-kilometer run with a time of 14:35.94 set on Oct. 26 and he is unbeaten in cross country races this fall.

This will be the second straight year a U of L signee has competed at the Foot Locker National Championships as Cory Thorne, a Cardinal freshman and All-BIG EAST cross country performer in 2005, competed at the event in 2004.

The Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships, one of the most prestigious prep events in the nation, is set to begin on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. PT with the girls' championship race followed by the boys' championship race at 10 a.m. PT.