2019 Sun Belt Men’s & Women's Cross Country News and Notes:
Composite Schedules: Men | Women | TFRRS
Around #SunBeltXC
• Due to the impending weather of Hurricane Dorian, Charleston Southern officials have announced the cancellation of the Buccaneer Open cross country meet this Saturday, Sept. 7. Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern were the only Sun Belt teams scheduled to compete in the event. The CCU cross country teams have also relocated to Charlotte, N.C. due to the impending effects of the storm.
• The Chants hosted the 15th annual Coastal Carolina Invitational at the Hackler Golf Course last weekend with junior Lisha Van Onselen earning the victory on the women's side. Junior Michael Pieterse was the top men's finisher for the Chants.
• Appalachian State's Mountains to Sea Open, originally scheduled for Sept. 21, has been rescheduled for Sept. 20 at the Don Kennedy Trails in Boone. The women's 5K race is slated for a 4 p.m. CT start, followed by the men's race at approximately 4:30 p.m. CT.
• The Troy women's cross country team finished second while the men finished fifth at the JSU Struts Season Opener to kick off the 2019 season on Friday. Freshman Cadi Rowe paced the Trojans who finished second in 14:45:90. Caroline Sall and Macki Walsh followed behind Rowe with sixth and seventh place finishes, respectively, to give Troy three top ten finishes on the women's side. The women tallied 48 total points to bring home second place
• Georgia State’s Lotte Meyberg began the 2019 season with a fourth-place finish at Saturday’s Vivint Invitational hosted by Utah Valley. Competing against runners from Southern Utah, Utah Valley, Utah and Idaho State, the Panthers placed two student-athletes in the top 25.
• Key Alfred and Stanley Limoh each posted top-20 finishes on the men's side while four runners earned top-20 finishes on the women's side to lead the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns cross country team at the New Orleans Cross Country Opener on Friday
• ULM opened the 2019 Cross Country slate with a pair of top five finishes from its men's and women's teams at the Mississippi College Season Opener. Kiprotich Mitei and Eric Hawkins finished in the top ten on the individual side, with Mitei finishing second overall. Edith Jebet and Angela Jepchirchir were sixth and seventh, respectively, on the women's side.
• South Alabama opens its 2019 season this weekend when it hosts the Azalea City Classic on Friday.
• The Texas State men's cross country team opened the 2019 season with a win as they collected 38 points in the 6k race at the UIW Opener August 30 in San Antonio, while the women placed fourth in the 4k with 94 points.
• The 2019 Sun Belt Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, in Hampton, Ga., at Nash Farm Battlefield. The NCAA Regional Championships will be held a week later at various locations and the National Championship is set for Saturday, Nov. 23, in Terre Haute, Ind.
MEN'S RUNNER OF THE WEE
Issac Benz, Appalachian State (Jr., Appleton, Wis.)
Appalachian State junior Issac Benz finished second of 86 runners to lead the Mountaineers to a second place finish of nine teams at the Covered Bridge Open on Friday. Benz shattered his 8K PR by nearly 40 seconds at the season opener, running 25:06.28.
WOMEN'S RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Izzy Evely, Appalachian State (So., Cornelius, N.C.)
Appalachian State sophomore Izzy Evely was the top Mountaineer finisher at the Covered Bridge Open, crossing seventh of 96 runners. Her time was 18:25.89 on the 5,200-meter course as she helped lead App to a fourth place team finissh.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, September 6
Azalea City Classic - Mobile, Ala. (Teams competing: South Alabama, Troy)
Saturday, September 7
Ken Garland Invitational - Arlington, Texas (Teams competing: UTA)
UCA XC Challenge - Conway, Ark. (Teams competing: Little Rock)
MGA Invitational - Macon, Ga. (Teams competing: Georgia State)