ELON, N.C. – Elon men’s and women’s cross country coach Christine Engel has released both team’s schedules for the upcoming 2011 season. The men and women will each compete in six meets, including the Southern Conference Championships, before the NCAA regional in November. 

The men and women begin the 2011 season on September 10 at the College of Charleston Invitational in Charleston, S.C.

“We open up this year at College of Charleston,” said Engel, entering her fourth year as Elon head coach. “It will be a great opportunity for our team to race on the course that will be used later in the season for the Southern Conference Championships.”

A week later, September 17, the Phoenix will host the third annual Elon Invitational on the university’s home course on the Elon University campus.

“This is always a special meet for our team,” commented Engel. “It is the only meet this season when we compete on our home course. For the past two years, this meet has drawn a lot of support. We even have several Elon cross country alumni come back to race in the event.” 

The month of September ends with the Phoenix competing at the Charlotte XC Invitational on September 30 in Charlotte, N.C.

The team’s last tune-up before the conference championships will be at the Royal Cross Country Challenge on October 14 in Charlotte. Sophomore Allyson Oram and junior Morgan Denecke posted career-best times of 18:25.70 and 18:40.10, respectively, at the same meet in 2010, which rank fourth and fifth on Elon’s all-time list. Last year on the men’s side, sophomore Nick Schneider recorded his career-best time of 25:20.30, ranking second on the team’s all-time list.

The 2011 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships will take place in Charleston on October 29. Sophomores Jackie Madden, Ben Perron, Oram and Schneider will look to build on their all-freshmen performances from the 2010 championships and help propel Elon to its first SoCon cross country championship.

Elon will compete in the NCAA regional on November 12 in Louisville, Ky. 

-- ELON --