Cross Country Schedule Set
8/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Aug. 8, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin cross country program plans to rack up the mileage this season -- both on the course and off. The 2006 slate, released Tuesday, includes eight competition dates, three of which are expected to attract some of the top cross country programs in the nation. Two home meets -- the Lumberjack Opener and the Southland Conference Championships -- bookend a heavy travel schedule that includes trips to Alabama, Arkansas and Indiana.
"We're traveling more than any Southland school in recent memory," said Lou Snelling, SFA cross country coach. "We're going to Indiana twice, Auburn, the Chile Pepper in Arkansas. These are major meets -- some of the best in the nation."
The schedule is highlighted by trips to the Auburn Invitational in Auburn, Ala., the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., and the Pre-Nationals meet in Terra Haute, Ind. All three meets are traditionally frequented by some of the top programs in the country. Snelling sees these dates as a chance for his program to earn some attention at the national level.
"We're traveling across the country to compete against some of the best teams in the nation and, hopefully, beat some of those teams," the coach said. "It's definitely the most competitive schedule in school history."
SFA will open the 2006 campaign on Sept. 1 with the Lumberjack Opener at Pecan Park in Nacogdoches. The Ladyjacks will run at the Rice Invitational in Houston on Sept. 9. The following weekend will split the squad between two meets. Some runners will travel to Terre Haute for a first look at the course that hosts the national championships, when they compete in the Indiana Intercollegiate on Sept. 15. The following day, other team members will run at the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station, Texas. On Sept. 30, SFA will run at the Auburn Invite, then take a two-week break before another split-squad weekend. The women's team will compete in the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 14, while the men's team returns to Indiana for the Pre-Nationals meet.
SFA will wrap up the regular season by hosting the SLC Championships on Oct. 27, again at Pecan Park. SFA has not hosted the conference championships since 2001, when the Lumberjacks began their run of five consecutive SLC titles. Last season, the SFA men's team captured the team title in dominant fashion, placing five runners in the Top 10 for the first time in school history. The Ladyjacks finished second behind individual champion Ashley Monteau.
"It will be a great opportunity for our teams to compete for the conference titles at home," Snelling said.
The NCAA South Central Regional Championships are set for Nov. 11 in Waco, Texas. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for Nov. 20 in Terra Haute, Ind.
-- SFA --
