BATON ROUGE — After kicking off the season last week at the Crimson Classic, the LSU men’s and women’s cross country teams will host the LSU Invitational on Saturday at Highland Road Park in Baton Rouge.
The collegiate women’s 5K race will begin at 8:35 a.m., with the collegiate men’s 8K race slated to begin at 9:45 a.m. There will also be a high school women’s and men’s 5K race that will begin at 8:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., respectively.
The men’s and women’s field is comprised of 17 teams each from across Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, including Alcorn State, Dillard, Grambling, Houston, Jackson State, Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, Loyola, Mississippi College, Mississippi Valley, Nicholls State, Southeastern, Southern, SUNO, Tulane and Xavier-Louisiana.
Leading the LSU men will be sophomore Cullen Doody, who was the Tigers’ top finisher last week at the Crimson Classic, as he clocked a 26:52.30 over the 8K course.
Also competing for the Tigers will be junior Tim Landry, who is LSU’s fastest returning runner from last year’s LSU Invitational, where he clocked a 26:58.70.
On the women’s side, the Lady Tigers will be led by senior Katie Hamel, who led the Lady Tiger runners last weekend with a 21st place in the 5K race, posting a 18:43.50.
Laura Carelton, the Lady Tigers’ fastest returning runner from last year’s LSU Invitational, will also run for LSU. Carleton clocked a 24:13.70 in last year’s home meet.
Saturday’s meet will allow fans to participate in the SEC’s third annual Together We CAN drive, benefitting the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Non-perishable food items and donations will be collected at the meet.
After hosting their only home meet of the season, the men’s and women’s teams will have a three-week break before traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the Chile Pepper Invitational on October 17.
Cross Country to Host LSU Invitational