ELON, N.C. – The Elon University cross country programs will split for a pair of meets this weekend with the majority of the squads competing on Friday, Oct. 18 at the Phoenix Invitational, the teams' second home meet of the season. Select members of the Elon women's team will race at the NCAA Pre-Nationals the following day on Oct. 19 in Madison, Wisconsin.
 
The opening race for the Phoenix Invitational is set for 9 a.m. with the men's 8K at the Elon Cross Country Course on the campus of Elon University. The Phoenix will begin competition at the NCAA Pre-Nationals at 1:40 p.m. in the 6K "B" race.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
• Live results for both meets will be provided and can be found on the Elon cross country schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• For more information on the Elon cross country teams, follow @ElonXCTF on Twitter and Instagram.
 
MEET INFORMATION – PHOENIX INVITATIONAL
Date: Friday, October 18
Location: Elon Cross Country Course
Time: Men's 8k - 9:00 a.m. Women's 6k - 10 a.m.
Elon Men Competing: Braden Anthes, Josh Driscoll, Bryan Hampson, Ian Johnson, Jack Kane, Michael Koenig, Nate Mars, Tyler Mastrangelo, Colby Robbins, Seth Steiner, Caden Strickland and Evan Taylor.
Elon Women Competing: Julia Bell, Madi Galindo, Addison George, Cami Glebocki, Karla Hiss, Ella Kane, Braetan Peters, Maddie Priest, Lakyn Schalterbrand, Avery Sheridan and Jasmine Young
 
MEET INFORMATION – NCAA PRE-NATIONALS
Date: Saturday, October 19
Location: Zimmer Championship Course
Time: Women's 6k "B" race – 1:40 p.m.
Elon Women Competing: Abby Beville, Mikayla Jones, Mariana Martinez, Sarah Petitjean, Quinn Smith, Madison Synowiec and Hannah Weber
 
ABOUT THE FIELD
• The Phoenix Invitational will feature athletes from Campbell, College of Charleston, Elizabeth City State, Guilford, Mount Olive, N.C. A&T, NC State, UNCG, Shaw, VCU, William Peace.
• Notable teams in the Phoenix's race at the NCAA Pre-Nationals will include Air Force, Auburn, Illinois, Indiana, James Madison, Kansas, Miami (Fla.), Miami (Ohio), Northeastern, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Washington State.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Elon last competed at the ECU Pirate Invitational on Oct. 4 at the e course at Overton's at Lake Kristi.
• The Elon women scored 347 points at the meet and was 14^th overall as some of the Phoenix regulars did not compete in the 6K race. In the men's 8K run, Elon garnered an 11th-place standing with 340 points while also missing some key members at the meet.
• Caden Strickland was Elon's top runner for the third straight meet as the junior ran a personal-best time of 24:51.2 and was 38th overall. That time moves the Roswell, Ga., native into the program's top 10 performance list.
• Evan Taylor was the next Phoenix runner to cross the line with his time of 25:02.7 – a new personal best – and was 48th overall.
• Cami Glebocki led the Phoenix in the women's 6K with her time of 22:46.8, marking a new personal-best for the sophomore. She finished 39th overall at the meet.
 
UP NEXT
• The 2024 CAA Cross Country Championships is up next for the Phoenix to kick off the postseason portion of the schedule. The meet will take place on Friday, Nov. 1 at the Elon Cross Country Course with the first race, the men's 8K, scheduled for a 10 a.m. start.