The UL Cross Country teams are set to run at their only home meet of the 2011 schedule on Friday, as they play host the 2011 Ragin’ Cajun Invitational at Acadiana Park.

The women’s 5,000 meter race will begin at 6:00 p.m., to be followed at 6:30 p.m. with the men’s four mile race.

The Ragin’ Cajun Invitational has been a mainstay on the UL cross country team’s schedule for the last 15 years. The 2011 meet will see Cajuns lining up against a bevy of Louisiana schools, including Southern, New Orleans, Nicholls State, and Xavier. Alcorn State is the only team from outside Louisiana to be represented.

The meet will be an excellent opportunity for the teams to continue to develop under the guidance of first-year coaching staff Lon Badeaux and Kelly LaMaison. Having only run one meet, the 2011 McNeese Cowboy Relays, the team is still looking to improve and create an identity as they prepare for October’s 2011 Sun Belt Championships in Bowling Green.

At the Cowboy Relays, the pairing of Zach France and Patrick Spiller led the men’s squad, posting a combined time of 18:50 on the 6,000-meter course for a seventh-place finish.

For the women, April Colomb and Petrona Layne took 17^th in a team best time of 23:09.

At last year’s Ragin’ Cajun Invitational, both teams finished as runner-up to in-state rival La.-Monroe. The men were led by Juan Rodriquez and Zach France who both posted top-10 finishes on the course.

Paula Parker, Petrona Layne, Katie Roland and Michon Meche finished in the top-10 in the women’s 5K.

Post-race coverage and times will be available on RaginCajuns.com. 

-- Ragin' Cajuns --