Friday, June 8, 2012

XU runners open Aug. 31, compete at Disney in October

Xavier will aim for its seventh consecutive GCAC team championships
in men's and women's cross country.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, six-time defending men's and women's team champions of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, will begin the 2012 cross country season Aug. 31 in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Mississippi.

Joseph Moses, returning for his eighth year as coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, announced the schedule Thursday.

Xavier will compete three additional times in the regular season — Sept. 8 at the Loyola Wolfpack Invitational in suburban Metairie, La., Sept. 22 at the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge, La., and Oct. 6 at the Walt Disney World Classic in Kissimmee, Fla. — before returning to Clinton on Oct. 20 or 27 to defend its GCAC titles.

The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets hope to qualify for the NAIA National Championships at Vancouver, Wash., for the second straight year and the fourth time in five years. Both GCAC team champions will receive automatic bids to the national meet.

Xavier will make its first appearance in the Walt Disney World Classic since 2006 and compete in the Eastern time zone for the first time since 2007.

Xavier has 10 returning All-GCAC runners: Emmanuel Detiege, Kwame Jackson, Javon Mead, Matt Pieri, Charles Shaw and Jamaal Williams on the men's team and Donyé Coleman, Catherine Fakler, Zahri Jackson and Hali Yarmush on the women's. The Jackson siblings were GCAC individual champions a year ago, as was Pieri in 2010.

2012 Xavier University of Louisiana Cross Country Schedule
all times Central unless noted

Aug. 31 (Fri.): Mississippi College Opener, Clinton, Miss. — women 5 p.m., men 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 (Sat.): Loyola Wolfpack Invitational, Metairie, La.
Sept. 22 (Sat.): LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, La.
Oct. 6 (Sat): Walt Disney World Classic, Kissimmee, Fla. — men 7:45 a.m. EDT, women 8:30 a.m. EDT
Oct. 20 or 27 (Sat.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Clinton, Miss.
Nov. 17 (Sat): NAIA National Championships, Vancouver, Wash. — women 10:30 a.m. PST, men 11:45 a.m. PST

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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