GEORGETOWN, Texas – The 2010 Southwestern Cross Country season is about to get underway and the Pirates are putting a new look out on the course this season. Head Coach Francie Larrieu Smith will be looking for new leaders to emerge from the pack after losing her top runners to graduation.
On the men's side Southwestern welcomes back seven runners, including five of the top seven from last year, and adds three first-year runners to the mix. The women have four of the seven returning and add an enormous first year class of 14 that will definitely help the team. "I am confident that we will receive some help from our first-year men and women and I am excited to see them on the course," states Coach Larrieu Smith.
Southwestern will open the season on Friday at the Bear Twilight Invitational hosted by Baylor University. The men will run a 6K race while the women compete at the 4K distance. "I like opening with a short course race and this is also a flat course which may seem more like a track race for some," notes Coach Larrieu Smith.
Highlighted on the schedule this season is the Texas D-III Championships hosted by Texas Lutheran University on September 25th, the SCAC Championships on October 30th and South/Southeast Regional Championships on November 13th.
Coach Larrieu Smith is joined on the course by new assistant coach Loryn Johnson and has the experience of volunteer assistant Michael Richardson returning while also receiving aid from new volunteer assistant Matt Buchorn. "The coaching staff is looking forward to the challenges of the upcoming season."