May 16, 2006

CINCINNATI - Xavier University head cross country coach Steve Nester has released the 2006 fall schedule, which includes eight meets and is the most ambitious schedule in program history as XU will compete against some of the nation's top programs.

"We are very excited about our fall 2006 campaign," said Nester. "It is our most ambitious schedule ever and competing against some of the best teams in the country should prepare us well for the superb competition within the Atlantic 10 Conference."

Nester added, "Despite our youth, our teams hope to finish in the top five in our 14-team league. Furthermore, our teams are shooting for first ever top 15 finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships. Our teams are primed to take it up a notch. The men's and women's teams return their top three runners from a year ago and our depth should be better than ever with the addition of several very talented incoming student-athletes."

The Musketeers will open the season on Sept. 2 at the Flyer Invitational hosted by the University of Dayton at Indian Riffle Park in Kettering. XU will then play host to the Third Annual Xavier Invitational on Sept. 9 at Voice of America Park in West Chester.

Following its home meet, Xavier will head to the Hoosier State to run at the National Catholic Championships at the Burke Memorial Golf Course on the campus of Notre Dame on Sept. 15. The prestigious Roy Griak Invitational, which has many of the top NCAA Championship contenders participating, will be up next for XU on Sept. 23 as the Musketeers continue their run through the month of the September.

Xavier will close out the month of September with a trip to the Rocky Mountains where the Musketeers will run in the Rocky Mountain Shootout hosted by the University of Colorado at Buffalo Ranch in Boulder. CU features one of the nation's top running programs as its women finished second at the 2005 NCAA Championship while the men finished fifth.

Xavier will take a weekend off before returning to action on Oct. 14 at the Bowling Green Invitational where the Musketeers will be able to get a preview of the course and field for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.

The Musketeers are then slated to open up the championship portion of the season at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships on Oct. 28 at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh. Xavier will close out the season on Nov. 11 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Each team will compete against 12 of the top 30 division I programs from the final 2005 National Poll.

-XU-