PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The 2017 American cross country season will open this weekend with the men running in seven races and the women competing in nine. Ten teams total will be running in various races through Friday and Saturday.
The three time men’s American champion No. 20 Tulsa will start off its season at the Cowboy Preview in Stillwater, Okla. on Friday, Sept. 1. The Golden Hurricane were recently picked 20th on the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The women’s team will join the men in heading to Stillwater. Both programs earned a spot on the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional preseason rankings list announced earlier this week.
SMU, who won the conference’s women’s race last year, will also start off its season on Friday. The Mustangs will run in Waco, Texas at the Bear Twilight Invitational. SMU is the fifth-ranked team coming out of the South Central Region.
Both Wichita State programs made the Midwest Region preseason rankings list. The Shockers will begin their season in Kansas at the J.K. Gold Invitational on Sept. 2. Wichita State’s men's team placed second in their conference championship last season, while the women placed third.
The ECU, Temple, and Tulane men’s and women’s programs will compete at the Temple Invitational this weekend. Both the Tulane men’s and women’s teams are ranked in the South Central Region, while the Temple women are ranked in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
The Cincinnati men and women will run in two races, starting with the Butler Open on Sept. 1. The Bearcats will also travel to West Chester, Ohio to run the course at the Queen City Invitational on Sept. 2.
UCF and USF will stay in the Sunshine State, as the Knights run at the Florida Atlantic Invitational on Sept. 1, while both the Bulls will travel to Lakeland, Fla. on Sept. 2 for the Holloway Park Preseason Festival.
The Memphis men’s and women’s teams will stay in town and run at the Brooks Twilight Classic on Saturday.
Men’s Cross Country Schedule
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Temple Invitational (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- ECU
- Temple
- Tulane
Cowboy Preview (Stillwater, Okla.)
- Tulsa
Butler Opener (Indianapolis, Ind.)
- Cincinnati
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Florida Southern/Southeastern (Lakeland, Fla.)
- USF
J.K. Gold Invitational (Augusta, Kan.)
- Wichita State
Queen City Invitational (West Chester, Ohio)
- Cincinnati
Brooks Twilight Classic (Memphis, Tenn.)
- Memphis
Women’s Cross Country Schedule
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
FAU Invitational (Boca Raton, Fla.)
- UCF
Temple Invitational (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- ECU
- Temple
- Tulane
Bear Twilight Invitational (Waco, Texas)
- SMU
Cowboy Preview (Stillwater, Okla.)
- Tulsa
Butler Opener (Indianapolis, Ind.)
- Cincinnati
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Florida Southern/Southeastern (Lakeland, Fla.)
- USF
J.K. Gold Invitational (Augusta, Kan.)
- Wichita State
Queen City Invitational (West Chester, Ohio)
- Cincinnati
Brooks Twilight Classic (Memphis, Tenn.)
- Memphis