Women's Cross Country Announces 2010 Schedule
7/23/2010 12:00:00 AM
July 23, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Fifth-year head coach Randy Hasenbank announced the Alabama women's cross country schedule for the upcoming 2010 season. The cross country team will be running in a possible seven events during this upcoming campaign.
"This season's women's cross country schedule represents our most competitive schedule in some time," Hasenbank said. "I would like to see our upperclassmen take advantage of the mid-season schedule. We need to beat as many of the top teams in the country as possible in order to gain as many points as possible for an at large bid to the NCAA meet if we do not get automatic bid. Our goal is to compete for one of the top two spots in the team standings, automatically advancing the squad to the National Championships."
The women's team will start off their season at the Belmont Opener on Friday, Sept. 3 in Nashville. This 4K race will be held at the Vaughn's Creek Course in Percy Warner Park, where coach Hasenbank will be able to evaluate the incoming freshman for the first time, as well as test the fitness level of the returners.
The only home race for the cross country team will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18 in Tuscaloosa. The 22nd Crimson Classic 5K race will be held at the Harry Pritchett Running Park following the Belmont Opener.
In October the cross country team will travel to South Bend, Ind., as they will compete in the Notre Dame Invitational. This meet will be the final 5,000 meter race of the season as the women will look to compete against a number of the top-25 teams in the country. This meet has grown to become one of the better races in the country, and Hasenbank will look to use this meet as preparation for the post-season meets.
The Pre-National meet on Saturday, Oct. 16 in Terre Haute, Ind., will be another race the coaches will use to prepare the team for their post cross country season.
The cross country team will continue to work towards their goal of a top-three finish at this year's Southeastern Conference Championship race at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. The Tide finished strong last year at fifth after improving from 10th just three years earlier.
This year's 6K NCAA Regional will be held close to home in Birmingham on Saturday, Nov. 13. The team is looking to take advantage of location and qualify in the top two spots to advance the entire squad to nationals.
The women's cross country team will look to close out their 2010 campaign at the NCAA National Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Monday, Nov. 22.
