HATTIESBURG,Miss – The University of South Alabama cross country team will start the 2010 season at the 30th annual Southern Mississippi invitational Friday. The race will be held at Tatum Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., with the women set to begin at 3:15 p.m. CT. 

The Jags will open the season short-handed as defending Sun Belt Conference champion Zac Edwards and the reigning SBC Women’s Freshman of the Year Tori Lawson both will not compete. USA will also run this weekend without senior Saber Salah and sophomore Alex Shields.

According to cross country coach Tim Goldsack, the team will use this meet to get some of the younger runners experience. He will look to freshman Danielle Sullivan and sophomore Jessie Mackie to lead the women’s team while in Lawson’s absence. The Jaguars will also depend on sophomore Scott Lassiter, redshirt freshman Zack Brantley and redshirt junior Damien Lee while their top three returning runners at last year’s SBC meet are out.

“I am excited about opening the season with two young squads," Goldsack said. "We won't be running a full roster, but I think we are going to do very well with the younger student-athletes. The regional rankings came out today; we have a lot to live up to and it starts this weekend. I know the team has worked very hard this summer and this should be a good rust buster for us.”

South Alabama is ranked sixth in the initial United States Track and Field/ Cross Country Coaches Association South Region poll of the 2010 season. The Jags are the only team from the Sun Belt Conference to be ranked.

 Head coach Paul Brueske said, “We are excited about the upcoming cross country season. The distance runners have made steady improvements each season under coach Goldsack. He has put together a solid bunch that should be fun to watch.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).


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