Seahawk XC teams preview regional course | News

Press Release from UNCW Athletics:

WILMINGTON,
North Carolina – The UNCW men's and women's cross country teams get an early peek
at the host course for the NCAA Southeast Regionals when the Seahawk harriers
travel to Charlotte Friday for the UNC Charlotte Invitational.

The
Seahawks are making their fourth appearance of the fall season and will have
their work cut out for them against a competitive field that includes 44
women's teams and 41 men's opponents at racer-friendly McAlpine Park. UNCW
returns to the layout in six weeks for the NCAA Southeast Regionals.

"This weekend
will be night and day from our last competition," said Layne Schwier, UNCW's
assistant cross country/track and field coach. The Seahawks tackled a rolling
layout in Williamsburg, Va., last weekend at the W&M Invitational,
finishing third (women) and fifth (men) overall.

"McAlpine
Park is basically a flat course with fairly manicured paths the entire time.
We're expecting to run much faster and many of the top teams from around the
state and region will be competing."

The meet
features four races and the Seahawks will have entries in all four events. The
Women's "Gold A" race goes off at 3:30 p.m., the Men's "Gold A" race starts at
4:15 p.m., the Women's "Green B" race begins at 4:50 p.m. and the Men's "Green
B" race wraps up the day at 5:20 p.m.

The men
are scheduled to run an 8K, while the women move up to a 6K distance for the
first time this year.

"We've
had a lot of good training runs this week and are anxious to see the hard work
we've put in this season pay off," added Schwier. "The competition will be very
tough and the course very fast. It's time to see who will rise to the occasion
and take advantage of this opportunity to run fast."

Following
Friday's race, the Seahawks take next weekend off before continuing their slate
Oct. 12 at the Blue Ridge Mountain Open in Boone, N.C.