University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Cross Country Teams Back in Action this Weekend
10.08.2015 | Cross Country
THE MEETS
Royals Challenge (Women)
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Time: 5:15 p.m. Friday
Gene Mullin Invitational (Men)
Location: Greenville, S.C.
Time: 9:00 a.m. Saturday
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville cross country teams will split up this weekend to get some competitive racing in, as the women will compete Friday night and the men will race on Saturday morning. The Bulldog teams added this weekend's races to the schedule after wet weather cancelled their scheduled meet at USC Upstate last weekend.
NOTABLES
-In two races each this season, the Bulldog men have two second place team finishes, while the Asheville women opened the fall with a second place finish before taking first at the UNC Asheville Invitational meet in mid-September.
-Dominic Collichio and Sarah Heisner have been named the Big South Conference's men's and women's runners of the week after their performances at the UNC Asheville Invitational.
-Friday's Royals Challenge will feature 75 total teams across four races (NAIA men's & women's, NCAA men's & women's) in the sixth year of the race being held.
-Saturday's Gene Mullin Invitational, hosted by Furman, will feature 56 total teams across six races (collegiate women's & men's, varsity & JV high school boys and girls) in the 43rd edition of the event.
QUOTABLES
“For women's team, we are excited to be able to race tomorrow. It's going to be a big race, the largest of the year, and will be on one of the fastest courses in the state of North Carolina. We are looking to get back into race mode and to see some big performances from those traveling before we start preparing for the championship part of the season. For men's team, it will be fun to be on a different course, racing a different distance than usual and racing some regional and nationally ranked teams. It will be a good test for the men's team leading into the championship part of the season.” - Head Coach Jesse Norman
UP NEXT
-Following this weekend's split team races, the Bulldog men and women will come back together to prepare for the Pre-Nationals race next Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky.
