PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Nine conference teams representing five schools will race this weekend with Houston and UConn each opening their seasons.
Houston was originally set to open its 2017 campaign at home last week, but cancelled all athletic events due to Hurricane Harvey. Both the men and women Cougar squads will instead begin their seasons at the Norry Hersey Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas, on Friday, Sept. 8. Houston will be the only American school competing on Friday. Both Houston teams were placed on the USTFCCCA South Central Region preseason rankings list.
UConn will join the Cougars in getting things started in 2017. The Huskies’ men’s and women’s teams are set to run at the Minuteman Invitational hosted by UMass in Amherst, Mass. on Saturday, Sept. 9. This marks the third straight year in which the Huskies have opened their season at this race. The men’s team won the race in 2015 and came in second last season.
The Cincinnati men’s team will be heading into its third race of the year, while the women’s team will compete for the second time this season at the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday. The Bearcat men ran in the Butler Season Opener, while both teams took part in the 36th Queen City Invitational with each also placing third overall in their respective competitions. Dan Huben paced the men, placing third overall in the race.
The Tulane men’s and women’s teams each placed third at the Temple Invitational, which featured three conference schools opening their seasons at the Belmont Plateau Park. The course is slated to host the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 28. The Green Wave will return to action on Saturday at the Allstate Sugar Bowl XC Festival in Metairie, La. The women’s team won the race last year, while the men placed second.
Cross Country Schedule
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
University of North Florida invitational (Jacksonville, Fla.)
- UCF
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Norry Hersey Rice Invitational (Houston, Texas)
- Houston
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Minuteman Invitational (Amherst, Mass.)
- UConn
John McNichols Invitational (Terre Haute, Ind.)
- Cincinnati
Allstate Sugar Bowl XC Festival (Metairie, La.)
- Tulane