MOBILE, Ala. – Following a nearly four week break in between meets, the  University of South Alabama men's and women's cross country teams will return to action when they compete at the FSU Invitational on Friday morning held at Apalachee Regional Park.

The Jaguar men will compete in the Men's Open 8k at 7:30 a.m. (CT), while the women will compete in the Women's Open 5k race at 8:05 a.m. (CT).

MEET INFORMATION
Date: 10/2
Meet (Host Institution): FSU Invitational (Florida State)
Place: Apalachee Regional Park (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Race Information: Men's Open 8k – 7:30 a.m. (CT) | Women's Open 5k – 8:05 a.m.
Live Timing: Click Here

THE FIELD
WOMEN'S – 5K – 10 TEAMS
Flagler College, FIU, Florida State, LSU, Mercer, SOUTH ALABAMA, South Carolina, Southern Mississippi, Valdosta State, UAB

MEN'S – 8K – 11 TEAMS
Daytona State College, Flagler College, FIU, Florida State, Mercer, Mobile, Point University, Seminole State College of Florida, SOUTH ALABAMA, Tallahassee CC, Valdosta State

AT THE LINE FOR THE JAGUARS
WOMEN'S – 5K
– Adele Maguad (So., Martigues, France)
– Andonet Cheruiyot (Sr., Eldoret Kenya)
– Silje Lindstad (Jr., Bergen, Hordaland, Norway)
– Carolien Millenaar (Sr., Sørvad, Denmark)
– Abbey Weitenbeck (So., Huntsville, Ala.)

MEN'S – 8K
– Onesmus, Kemboi (Sr., Eldoret Kenya)
– Jared Peaslee (Fr., Wheaton, Ill.)
– Warno Potgeiter (Sr., Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa)
– Nate Pudner (Sr. Auburn, Ala.)
– Thomas Sand (Jr., Holstebro, Denmark)
– Charlie Slaughter (R-Fr, Birmingham, Ala.)
– Kirami Yego (Fr., Kapenguria, Kenya)

NOTES
- While the 2020 season marks the first time South Alabama has competed at the FSU XC Invitational, the Jags are no stranger to the course as Apalachee Regional Park has served host to the NCAA South Regional on multiple occasions.
- USA has competed at the regional on this same course three of the last four seasons (2019, 2018 and 2016).
- South Alabama runners Carolien Millenaar and Kirami Yego are both coming off first-place finishes in their season openers at the Azalea City Classic held on Sept. 11.
- Millenaar crossed the line with a time of 17:49.5, marking the second consecutive year that she has captured the meet title and the third title of her career.
- The senior dominated the field as she finished nearly 30 seconds faster than Troy's Macki Walsh and was selected as the Sun Belt Conference Female Runner of the Week.
- Millenaar has finished inside the Top 15 in 10 of her 15 career races.
- In his first cross country race as a Jaguar, Yego won the men's race with a time of 15:23.6, which was 16 seconds faster than the next closest runner.
- Led by Yego, South dominated the field taking home eight of the top nine spots, including each of the first six to cruise to the team title at the Azalea City Classic.
- With the strong performance, South Alabama scored 15 points, 60 points better than fellow Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana, which placed second at the meet.
- Last fall at the NCAA Regional held on the same course, Onesmus Kemboi became the first male runner at South to capture all-region honors since Christoph Graf and Michael Pienaar at the 2014 regional with his top 25 finish, just missing out on advancing to the NCAA Championships by 18 seconds.
- With his second-place finish at the Azalea City, Kemboi has finished seventh or better in six of his last 10 races, while Warno Potgieter has placed inside the top 15 in six of his last seven races.-  

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Parker Cowles
- On the course: "Florida State has real cross country course. The footing is very good, but the rolling hills are tough and the transition from grass to gravel throughout the race makes it difficult to get in a rhythm."
- On his expectations for the men: "I really don't know what to expect on Friday in terms of competition; it has been such an odd year. For the men it is their first attempt at an 8k, and they are very fit right now. I want them to experiment, and be a little more aggressive than they have in the past. Five miles is a long way to race but they are ready for it."
- On what he is looking for out of the women's team: "I hope the women bring the pack time in compared to our last meet. The emphasis will be making a move on the second lap of the course and trusting themselves in the middle of the race."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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—