MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's and women's cross country head coach David Barnett announced the 2017 schedule on Thursday.

The Jaguars will open the 2017 campaign with the Azalea City Classic, its annual home meet, on Friday, Sept. 8 held at the Mobile County Fairgrounds.  The college portion of the meet is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m. with the women's 6K.  The men's 8K will immediately follow and is slated to begin at 5:45 p.m.

"We always like to start the season off at home because it's a great opportunity for the South Alabama community to support the team and the runners enjoy competing on a familiar course to start the season," Barnett said.

South Alabama's final two regular-season meets will be on familiar courses as the Jags will travel to Louisville, Ky., for the Greater Louisville Classic (Sept. 30) and then travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., two weeks later for their final meet of the regular season at Alabama's Crimson Classic on Friday, Oct. 13.

USA will open up postseason competition on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Sun Belt Conference Championship hosted by Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.  Last season, the Jaguar women placed third at the league event, while the men came in fifth.

Postseason action continues two weeks later on Friday, Nov. 10, as South Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa, Ala., fort the NCAA Division I South Regional Championship, hosted by Alabama.  USA will look to earn an invitation at the NCAA Championship the following weekend as the national championship event will be hosted by Louisville on Saturday, Nov. 18.  Both the regional event and the championship event will be held on courses run by the Jaguars during the regular season.

"It's always important to preview a championship course whenever possible," Barnett said.  "You want to be comfortable with the layout so that you can have the best race plan possible when it's time to compete for a championship."

2017 South Alabama Cross Country Schedule
Friday – Sept. 8 – Azalea City Classic – Mobile, Ala.        
Saturday – Sept. 30 – Louisville Classic – Louisville, Ky.
Friday – Oct. 13 – Alabama Crimson Classic – Tuscaloosa, Ala.    
Saturday – Oct. 28 – Sun Belt Conference Championship – Boone, N.C.
Friday – Nov. 10 – NCAA South Regional – Tuscaloosa, Ala.    
Saturday – Nov. 18 – NCAA Championships – Louisville, Ky.

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

Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub

—USA—