Sept. 7, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford cross country team will start their season Friday, Sept. 8, at the UTC Invitational/Powerade Opener. The race will begin at 5:45 p.m.

The Bulldogs and the Mocs will be joined by six other teams including Tennessee and Belmont, who will only be running their men's teams, and Alabama, Auburn, Middle Tennessee State, and Tennessee State.

This meet will be somewhat of a warm-up for each team as the participants will be running shorter distances. The women will be running a 2K as opposed to the usual 5K, and the men will be running a 5K instead of an 8K.

"It's kind of a low-key meet for us," said Head Coach Glenn McWaters, 2005 OVC Women's Coach of the Year. "We run a shorter distance than we usually do. This just gives us an opportunity to get some competition against some other schools."

The Bulldogs' men's team has their eyes set on high goals this year.

"Our men, the last two years, have been really young," said McWaters. "This year they are much more mature. I think we have a better chance to be one of the top two or three teams in the conference with the men."

The men return 2005 OVC Freshman of the Year Cameron Bean, Drew Anderwald, Bo Brawner (red-shirt), Michael Hanson, while adding junior transfer from UT-San Antonio Michael Schwartz, sophomores Joel Shaw and J. P. Kaal (red-shirt) and freshmen Blaise Carie, Adam Gadberry, Chas Keitham, and Patrick Ollinger.

The women look toward defending their 2005 OVC Championship title.

"We have a really young team," said McWaters, "and I just want to find out where they are and what they are capable of right now. It'll help me plan their workouts for the future and see what we need to do to get them to win the conference championship. That's our goal every year when we start out is to win the conference - both our men and women."

The women return Britney Almaguer, Robyn DeBenedet, Katherine Herring and Lauren Blankenship (red-shirt), while adding sophomores Gena Eller and Katie Almand as well as freshmen Ina Ables, Angela Fister, Jessica Gurley, Lauren Pilcher, and Jessica Van Ausdall.

McWaters is in his tenth season as head coach for Samford University and has a successful career record claiming five conference championships, establishing more than 160 school records as well as receiving accolades as Conference Coach of the Year five times.