Coming off impressive performances in their most recent outings, the Emory University men's and women's cross country teams hit the trails again on Saturday (Oct. 4) when they compete at the JSU Foothills Invitational.  The event will be held at the Oxford Lake and Recreation Center in Oxford, Alabama, with the women’s 5K race starting at 9:15 am (CDT) followed by the men’s 8K at 10:00 am.

In addition to Emory, other teams scheduled to send both men’s and women’s sides include Austin Peay, Birmingham Southern, Columbus State, host Jacksonville State, Spring Hill College, Troy University and the University of Tennessee-Martin.

The  Eagles will be competing in back-to-back weekends for the first time this season after registering solid showings at the Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola, Florida.  The women’s team, ranked 29^th nationally and first in the South/Southeast Region, topped a seven-team field at the Stampede after capturing four of the top six overall finishes, headlined by senior Tamara Surtees whose 5K showing of 18:51 ranked second out of 80 competitors.

The men’s side, ranked No. 3 in the South/Southeast Region, came through with a runner-up effort last week with three runners placing among the top 11 finishers.  Junior Lukas Mees spearheaded the Emory effort, clocking a 26:28 over the 8K course that was good for fourth place out of 64 runners.