May 6, 2005

Slippery Rock, Pa. - Jeff Weiss, the 2004 state and Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class AA cross country champion and a state finalist in track, recently signed a national letter of intent with SRU, Rock head coach John Papa proudly announced.

Weiss, a native of Avella and soon-to-be graduate of McGuffey High School, won his WPIAL title with a course-record time last fall on the same SRU course he will call home for the next four years.

In addition to his cross country championship efforts last fall, Weiss qualified for the finals in the 3200 meter run at the 2004 PIAA Class AAA championship meet. He finished third.

He also earned berths in the finals of both the 1600 and 3200 events at last year's WPIAL Class AAA championships. He was the state runner-up in the 3200 and finished third in the 1600.

Weiss will be following a path blazed by his sister, Kelly, a 2000 SRU graduate who earned NCAA Division II All-America honors as a distance runner. She currently holds the SRU school record in the outdoor 10,000m and indoor 5,000m events.