Photo from the UMHB Athletics Department
BELTON, Texas- Returning to its normal racing schedule after a challenging spring season, the UMHB cross country team has released its 2021 slate.
The schedule features six meets, only two of which will be contested outside of the Lone Star State.
The Cru open the year running at the annual Concordia Invitational on Sept. 1, which will be held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Both the men and women will be running the 5k, something that rarely happens in a typical cross country season.
After a 17-day break, head coach Alex Aldaco’s team heads to San Antonio for the Our Lady of the Lake Invitational on Sept. 18, and less than a week later, on Sept. 24, the Crusaders will run at the Concordia Classic.
Oct. 2 might just be the highest profile meet of the season, as UMHB takes a trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Chile Pepper Festival. Hosted by SEC heavyweight Arkansas, Div. I programs such as Texas and Baylor are routinely in attendance. A start time for that meet has not yet been announced.
The Bill Libby Invitational in Abilene on Oct. 16 is followed two weeks later by the Cru’s most significant meet of the season: the ASC Championship. Set for Oct. 30 at the University of Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, the UMHB men will be looking to improve on a seventh place finish at the meet this past spring, while the women, led by 2020-21 individual champion Holly Dasher, try to capture their second consecutive conference title.
Full 2021 schedule:
Concordia Invitational-Sept. 1-Round Rock, Texas
OLLU Invitational-Sept.18- San Antonio, Texas
Concordia University Classic-Sept. 24-Pflugerville, Texas
Chile Pepper Festival-Oct.2- Fayetteville, Arkansas
Bill Libby Invitational-Oct. 16-Abilene, Texas
ASC Championship-Oct. 30-Clarksville, Arkansas
