9/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
By Drew Harris | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington men's and women's cross country programs will get their seasons off and running Saturday morning when the teams host the annual Gerald Richey Invitational.
The 2016 meet marks the fourth straight year that the race will be held at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie. The university women will run first at 8 a.m., followed by the university men approximately 20 minutes later. Both will compete in 5k races.
"We always enjoy hosting the Gerald Richey Invitational," UTA coach John Sauerhage said. "It is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to get a competitive race under their belts and run in front of a lot of family and friends. It also gives us a chance to showcase Lynn Creek Park, which is a great cross country course and has been a wonderful site for the UIL Regional Championships."
The men's team is ranked sixth in the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's South Central Regional rankings. In addition, the Mavericks are the unanimous favorites to win the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Championships.
On the women's side, the Mavericks are 11th in the inaugural regional rankings. UTA is predicted to finish fourth in the conference standings.
Men's and women's teams from North Texas, as well as the SMU and Georgia State women's squads, will join UTA among Division I schools at the Gerald Richey Invitational. Dallas Baptist and Midwestern State are among the other colleges scheduled to compete.
High school boys and girls races will be contested following the college events. The course is the same layout that teams will race at the UIL Regional Championships next month (Oct. 29).
In addition, for the first time, the Mavericks are also hosting the UT Arlington Blazing 5K fundraiser prior to the start of the college races. Entry fee is $25 and the race, which is open to everyone, will begin at 7:30 a.m. Admission for spectators is free for all of the Saturday races, while parking is $10 per vehicle.
Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake is located at 5610 Lake Ridge Parkway in Grand Prairie. Results of the college and high school races can be found runfarusa.com.
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