University of Richmond Athletics
Cross Country Opens Season at Home on Saturday
08/30/2011 | Cross Country
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - The University of Richmond men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2011 season when they host the Spider Alumni Open on Saturday morning. The 10th annual running of the event will take place at the Collegiate School's Cross Country Course.
"We are looking forward to our Spider Alumni Open meet," said head men's coach Steve Taylor. "It is a tradition that brings many of our alumni back to Richmond and serves as an opportunity for us to see several of our freshmen compete for the first time in uniform."
The men's 5K race will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the women's two-mile race to follow at 10:02 a.m. In addition to Spider alumni and unattached entrants, the William and Mary and Old Dominion men's and women's programs will also compete at Saturday's event.
After finishing fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regional a year ago, the Richmond men enter the 2011 season ranked 14th in the region. On the women's side, the Spiders open the year ranked 10th in the region after finishing seventh in the Southeast Region in 2010.
"Lori and I are excited about this year," added Taylor. "We graduated a lot of exceptional student-athletes, including four track & field All-Americans, and although they will be tough to replace we feel they have showed our current team what it takes to have success at this level. It's important that our leaders step forward, as they have already, to give guidance along the way. It's also important that the level of intensity our team is known for continues to develop throughout the season. We want to be at our best in the championships."
Steve Taylor is entering his 11th year as the head of the men's squad, while Director of Cross Country/Track & Field and head women's coach Lori Taylor also begins her 11th season with the Spiders this fall.
Southeast
Region - Men's Preseason Rankings
1. NC State
2. Louisville
3. Virginia
4. Eastern Kentucky
5. North Carolina
6. William and Mary
7. Virginia Tech
8. Duke
9. Wake Forest
10. George Mason
11. High Point
12. Appalachian State
13. Norfolk State
14. Richmond
15. Liberty
Southeast
Region - Women's Preseason Rankings
1. Duke
2. North Carolina
3. Virginia
4. NC State
5. James Madison
6. Clemson
7. Wake Forest
8. Virginia Tech
9. William and Mary
10.
Richmond
11. Kentucky
12. Liberty
13. Louisville
14. Western Kentucky
15. George Mason
DIRECTIONS TO COLLEGIATE SCHOOL XC COURSE
From I-64:
1. Take I-64 West to Rt.
288 South (Exit 175).
2. Follow Rt. 288 South for
5.5 miles to Rt. 6 East (Paterson Ave.) exit.
3. Once on Rt. 6 East, drive
one mile and turn Right onto Blair Road.
4. Drive ½ mile on Blair Rd.
and you will see Collegiate's Robins Campus in Goochland County on the right.
From Patterson Avenue:
1. Proceed West on
Patterson Ave. (Rt. 6) (5.2 miles west of Parham Rd. & 2.5 miles west of
Gaskins Rd.)
2. Turn Left onto Blair Rd..
3. Drive ½ mile on Blair Rd.
and you will see Collegiate's Robins Campus in Goochland County on the right.
From University of Richmond campus:
1. Turn Left out of the
Fred Hardy Track Parking lot onto College Rd./Boatwright Dr.
2. Proceed approximately 1
mile to the end of College Rd. and then turn Right onto River Rd.
3. Proceed west for 3.4
miles and turn right onto Blair Rd. (Rt. 649).
4. Turn Right on Blair Rd.
and head north for ½ mile until you see Collegiate's Robins Campus in Goochland
County on the right.
* Race Course Address: 400 Blair Rd., Richmond, VA 23238
