LAFAYETTE The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns cross country team will host its first meet in two years when it holds the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational on Friday at Acadiana Park.

Admission is free. Results will be available at the completion of each race at www.RaginCajuns.com.

The women's 5K race will begin at 5 p.m. with the men's 4-mile race set for 5:30. Louisiana will be joined in the event by McNeese State, New Orleans, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southern and Louisiana Tech.

With the Sun Belt Conference Championships set for Nov. 2 in Mobile, Ala., the Ragin' Cajuns will use their home meet as a final tuneup. The Louisiana men's team, ranked No. 14 in the South Central Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), has earned second-place finishes in its three scoring meets of the season, including last week at the Florida State Invitational.

Matthew Rice, who claimed Sun Belt Male Runner of the Week honors on Wednesday, has recorded three top-10 finishes in four events this season for the Ragin' Cajuns. The Baton Rouge native finished as the top Division I runner at the FSU Invitational and was fifth overall at the McNeese State Cowboy Stampede on Sept. 27.

Freshman Beau Robinson has also produced three top-10 finishes for Louisiana with twin brother Bryce Robinson earning a pair of top-10 finishes on the season.

Ashley Irwin and Anna Katherine Devitt have paced the Ragin' Cajuns on the women's side with each finishing in the top-10 in all four events on the season. Louisiana has three top-5 finishes on the season as a team, finishing fifth overall last week at the FSU Invitational.

Irwin, a two-time Sun Belt Conference Female Runner of the Week, earned a first-place finish at the USA Azalea City Classic last month and placed fourth overall last week at the FSU Invitational. Devitt led the Ragin' Cajuns at the McNeese State Cowboy Stampede last month with a fifth-place finish and was sixth overall at the FSU Invitational.

DIRECTIONS TO ACADIANA PARK:
From Lafayette:
Head northeast on Johnston Street towards E Convent Street. Continue on Louisiana Avenue and turn Right on E Alexander Street. Acadiana Park will be about 1/2 mile down on your left. Parking will be in the parking lot by the tennis courts & playground.

From I-10 West (Lake Charles):
Take Exit #104 for Louisiana Avenue towards Johnston Street. Turn Right at Louisiana Avenue and a Left on E Alexander Street. Acadiana Park will be about 1/2 mile down on your left. Parking will be in the parking lot by the tennis courts & playground.

From I-10 East (Baton Rouge):
Take Exit #104 for Louisiana Avenue towards Johnston Street. Turn Left at Louisiana Avenue and a Left on E Alexander Street. Acadiana Park will be about 1/2 mile down on your left. Parking will be in the parking lot by the tennis courts & playground.