Cross Country Squads to Participate in Blue Ridge Open

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville men's and women's cross country teams are back in action on Friday when they participate in the Blue Ridge Open at the Don Kennedy Trail at State Farm near Appalachian State University. The meet is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

This is the final meet for each team before they take part in the Big South Conference Championships in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Bulldog coach Jesse Norman has his teams get better with each week.

"We're making progress, and I like the way each team is coming along," commented Norman. "We're anxious to see how each team performs on Friday. There will be some very good teams in the meet."

Asheville ran last at the Charlotte Invitational on Oct. 2. Individually the men were paced by sophomore Eliud Chirchir. The Kenyan native ran a strategic race in the 8K to place 26^th overall. In the process, Chirchir improved his season best to 25:54. Chirchir was just .05 off his personal best of 25:49.

On the women's side, freshman Melanie Kulesz led the pack for the Bulldog women. Kulesz took 28^th overall in the 5K. Kulesz ran a season-best 18:42.