Cross Country Season Starts Friday

Middle Tennessee's cross country season is will hear the opening gun on Friday as the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders will compete in the Belmont Invitational in Nashville. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM at Percy Warner Park. The men will compete in a 3.8-mile run while the women will run a 2-mile course. Head Coach Dean Hayes seemed optimistic about the upcoming slate after watching both squads improve last season. The men placed fourth in the Sun Belt with Geoffrey Lagat taking the individual championship for the first time in school history. The women improved all season and should continue on the upswing in 2001. "We return our top three runners on the men's side with Geoffrey [Lagat], Levi Sybert, and Anthony McGary. We think we have some newcomers that can help us and we're really excited about Steve Safstrom from Centennial High School in Franklin." Hayes went on to say that the women's team should benefit from some new faces, too. "The 2001 season will mark the return of Kapreia Kirk after a year off. We are also looking forward to seeing Colleen Parker and Regina Raccuglia get into a Blue Raider uniform for the first time. I am more excited about this season than I have been in a while." Hayes' charges will see action in five meets this season before NCAA competition begins. The teams will run at the Western Kentucky Invitational on Sept. 15, the Vanderbilt Invitational on Sept. 22, the UAB Invitational on Oct. 6, and the Austin Peay Invitational on Oct. 13. The Sun Belt meet is slated for Oct. 27 in Bowling Green, KY.

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

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