Elon’s Polk Announces Phoenix Cross Country Schedule

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University cross country programs and second-year head coach Nick Polk announced the Phoenix’s 2015 schedule on Tuesday morning, June 16. The slate includes two home meets and a trip to the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Louisville, Ky.

“We have put together a great schedule that will allow us to build towards having a successful post-season,” said Polk. “We are fortunate enough to be able to open up the season at home on our cross country course with two meets against some very good teams. We will then hit the road and compete against some of the top teams in the country before heading into the most important part of the season which begins with the Colonial Athletic Association Championships.”

The Phoenix opens the season on its home course with the Elon Open on Sept. 4, before hosting its second meet, the seventh annual Elon Invitational, on Sept. 12. Last year, both the Phoenix men’s and women’s programs swept the field at its home meets.

Elon then treks down to Cary, N.C., for the adidas XC Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sept. 18. The maroon and gold then competes at the prestigious Greater Louisville Classic on Oct. 3, its first of three potential trips to the Bluegrass State during the season.

Following competition in Charlotte at the Royals Challenge on Oct. 10, select members of the team returns to Louisville for the NCAA Pre-Nationals on Oct. 17. The Phoenix will race against some of the best programs and individuals in the nation at the site of the 2015 NCAA Championships.

The NCAA Pre-Nationals will serve as a tune-up for the CAA Cross Country Championship meet, hosted by College of Charleston, on Oct. 31. Last year in its first year in the league, the Elon women finished second overall at the CAA Championships while the Phoenix men earned its highest Division I finish ever at a conference meet with a third-place standing.

After a few members of the squad compete at the NC State hosted Three Stripe Invitational on Nov. 7, the Elon heads to Charlottesville, Va., for the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on Nov. 13. Last season, the Phoenix women garnered its highest finish at the regional meet, finishing eighth overall.

The season concludes at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21, in Louisville for the athletes and programs that qualify. Last year, Luis Vargas became Elon cross country’s first-ever All-American after finishing 25th overall at the meet.

2015 Elon Cross Country Schedule
Sept. 4 – Elon Open (Elon, N.C.)
Sept. 12 – Elon Invitational (Elon, N.C.)
Sept. 18 – Adidas Cross Country Challenge (Cary, N.C.)
Oct. 3 – Greater Louisville Classic (Louisville, Ky.)
Oct. 10 – Royals Challenge (Charlotte, N.C.)
Oct. 17 – NCAA Pre-Nationals (Louisville, Ky.)
Oct. 31 – CAA Championships (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
Nov. 7 – Three Stripe Invitational (Cary, N.C.)
Nov. 13 – NCAA Regional Championships (Charlottesville, Va.)
Nov. 21 – NCAA Championships (Louisville, Ky.)