Eye Opener Invitational Kicks off 2016 Cross Country Season
9/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate cross country team will begin the 2016 season on Friday as it hosts the 33rd running of the Eye Opener Invitational at Milliken Research Center. It is the first of three meets for Upstate at the Milliken Research Center this year as the Spartans will compete there in the Upstate Invitational on Oct. 1 and the ASUN Championships on Oct. 29.
The Eye Opener begins at 6:30 with the women's 5K race followed shortly after by the men's 8K run.
"This will be a good indicator of what type of fitness we're in and where we need to improve," head coach Carson Blackwelder said.
Upstate will be joined this weekend by Anderson, Brevard, Converse (women only), Clemson, Erskine, King, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, Stetson, Wofford and Young Harris College. In 2015, Upstate swept the men's and women's team races while Griffin Eubanks was the winner of the men's race.
The Upstate men were chosen to finish in fourth place in the ASUN preseason poll as the team welcomes four newcomers along with nine returners. The women's team was tabbed to finish in seventh place and will have eight newcomers join five returning runners.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Winthrop Invitational.
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