MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama Cross Country teams are scheduled to compete in four regular-season meets, three of which are in-state, in the schedule released on Thursday.

"Our season is always centered around the conference and regional championship events in November," said head coach Parker Cowles said. "I want to compete hard in our four lead up races and every one of those races presents a few new learning opportunities. The South Regional meet always has over 300 entrants and a lot of teams.  It can be very difficult to race in such a large field.  Wingfoot and the UAB Invite are both opportunities for us to race in large competitions.  Azalea City and the Foothills Invite are definitely more team oriented races with fewer runners.  In want our men and women to race and execute as a team, and to be aware of each other and what they are trying to accomplish.  This is a lot easier to do when races have 100-150 athletes.

South will open up the 2019 Cross Country season on its home course when it host the Azalea City Classic on Fri., Sept. 6 at the Old Brookley Gulf Pines Golf Course on Mobile Bay. Unlike last season when the Jags had three races in Mobile, the season opener is the only one scheduled in Mobile this year.

Two weeks later, both Jag squads will then travel to Cartersville, Ga., to compete in the 5th Annual Wingfoot Classic hosted by the Atlanta Track and Field Club at Sam Smith Park on Fri., Sept. 20, both of which are new courses for the Jaguars.

Following another two-week break, South will compete in the first of two meets scheduled during the month of October. The Jags will head to Oxford, Ala., to participate in the 14th Annual Foothills Invite hosted by Jacksonville State University. The event will take place at Choccolocco Park on Sat., Oct. 5.

"I think every year it is fun to experience a few new courses and potentially race new competition, both within and outside the South Region," said Cowles. "Wingfoot is a great opportunity for us to race in Atlanta, which we have not done in the past few years.  It is also a very large and well-known high school meet, and I hope to raise the level of exposure we have to potential recruits in the states of Georgia and Tennessee."

For the second-straight year, South Alabama will also take part in the UAB Blazer Invite (Oct. 19) in Montevallo, Ala., to close out the regular season.

"Both our home meet at Brookley and the UAB Invite are terrific courses that we are familiar with," added Cowles. "I believe it is productive to have a few familiar races on the schedule.  As a coach I can track development from year to year and see improvement but I also feel the athletes race better when they know a course."

Postseason competition opens up for the Jaguars two weeks later with the Sun Belt Conference Championships on Sat., Nov. 2. This season's league championship event will be held at Nash Farm Battlefield Park in Hampton, Ga., as Georgia State will serve as host.

This season's NCAA South Regional event will be held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 15.  Florida State also hosted the South Regional a year ago.

The 2019 NCAA Championships will be held this season on Nov. 23 in Terra Haute, Ind., and hosted by Indiana State University at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.  Since 2002, Indiana State has hosted the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 12 times with the last coming during the 2016 season..

2019 South Alabama Cross Country Schedule
Sept. 6 (Fri.) – Azalea City Classic – University of South Alabama – Old Brookley Gulf Pines Golf Course – Mobile, Ala.
Sept. 20 (Fri.) – 5th Annual Wingfoot Classic – Atlanta Track Club – Sam Smith Park – Cartersville, Ga.
Oct. 5 (Sat.) – 14th Annual Foothills Invite – Jacksonville State University – Choccolocco Park – Oxford, Ala.
Oct. 19 (Sat.) – UAB Blazer Invite – UAB – Montevallo Course – Montevallo, Ala.
Nov. 2 (Sat.) – Sun Belt Conference Championship – Georgia State University – Nash Farm Battlefield Park – Hampton, Ga.
Nov. 15 (Fri.) – NCAA South Regional Championships – Florida State University – Apalachee Regional Park – Tallahassee, Fla.
Nov. 23 (Sat.) – NCAA Championships – Indiana State University – LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course – Terre Haute, Ind.

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

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