July 17, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head men's and women's cross country coach Danny Williamson today released his squads schedule for the 2008 season. A pair of home meets and a trip to Louisville, Kentucky highlight the seven-meet slate, including the NCAA Southeast Regional meet to be held in the Catamount's backyard, taking place in Tanglewood, N.C.

For the second consecutive year, WCU's cross country teams will open their season by hosting the Western Carolina Open in Cullowhee, the evening of Aug. 29. The WCU women won the event last season, with the men coming in a strong third place.

The next meet for the teams will again be in the friendly confines of Cullowhee when Western welcomes some of the south's best teams to the Catamount Classic, to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Classic regularly brings in teams from all over the region, including some of the top programs from the ACC and the Southern Conference.

On Oct. 4, Coach Williamson will take his squads to Louisville, Ky. To take part in the Greater Louisville Classic, then will head to Boone, N.C. for the Blue Ridge Open, in which the Catamounts will look to retain the Little Brown Jug, the trophy given to the top finishing team between WCU and arch-rival Appalachian State.

The first day of November brings the 2008 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships, to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 1. The meet, which was held in Cullowhee last season, will take place in Spartanburg, S.C. on the campus of Wofford College. The Catamount men took home seventh place at least year's SoCon Championships, with the women finishing in sixth place overall.

The NCAA Southeast Regional is scheduled for Nov. 15 in Tanglewood, with the NCAA National Championships the following week in Terra Haute, Ind.