Seahawk Harriers Back In Action At Mason Invitational

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Increasing distances will be the name of the game for both UNCW men's and women's cross country teams as they head north to Leesburg, Va., to race in the annual Mason Invitational on Saturday Oct. 4.

The women's race will start at 10 a.m. while the men will be starting at 10:45 at Oatlands Plantation. It will be the men's first 8K race of the season, and the first 6K for the women.

"We're going back to this meet because the women can race a 6K," said Layne Schwier, UNCW's distance coach. "We race that distance at the CAA meet and NCAA's, so it's important to race that distance beforehand.

"We've been to this meet quite a number of times and we have some history with it. It's a very tough course with some substantial hills. It's a big mental challenge. One year, it was very wet, slick and pouring down rain and last year, it was extremely hot and humid."

This marks the fifth year the race has been held at Oatlands Plantation, a site loaded with American history about 30 minutes west of Fairfax and host George Mason. The estate was founded in 1798 and was owned by George Carter, a descendant of one of the first families in Virginia.

The course is run on a horse steeplechase and is covered with jumps and obstacles. "It even has a creek crossing so depending on how high the water is, that can play a role," said Schwier. "It's a fun and challenging course. It's not like a lot of the fast golf courses most teams tend to race. This one will take a lot out of you."

Other teams competing include, American, Catholic, George Mason, George Washington, Richard Bland, Southern Maryland and Virginia Military Institute.

After Saturday's race, the Seahawks head to Johns Island, S.C., on Friday, Oct. 17, to compete in the Charleston Invitational.

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Seahawk Harriers Back In Action At Mason Invitational