NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State cross country has announced the release of its schedule for the upcoming 2019 season. The Redbirds are slated to compete in seven meets prior to the NCAA Midwest Regional, including the annual Illinois State Invitational and the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
The 'Birds have two competitions in the state of Illinois and six in nearby bordering states: Iowa, Missouri and Indiana. The ISU cross country team competes only in Illinois or its bordering states until November, when the team travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma for the NCAA Midwest Regional.
ISU kicks off the 2019 campaign at Iowa on Friday, Sept. 6 with the first race beginning at 6 p.m. The Redbirds are opening the season at the Hawkeye Invitational for the fifth-straight year.
The 'Birds then return home for the annual Illinois State Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 with the first race starting at 5 p.m. Last year, the ISU men took home the team title at their home meet, while the women finished third.
"Looking at the schedule, we're always looking forward to our home meet when we bring out our full squad," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee said. "It feels like the official start of the season. The Iowa meet is usually a lowkey start for us, but a meet we've been going to for years and really enjoy."
Following a week off, Illinois State heads to Missouri on Friday, Sept. 27 where they will have the opportunity to run on a new course. The first race begins at 6 p.m.
"Mizzou is a new meet on our schedule," Bovee said. "They have a brand-new course that they've built where they hope to host some NCAA Championships in the future so we wanted to get down there and take a peek at that."
The next two meets are all familiar territory for the Redbirds as ISU competes at MVC foe, Bradley, at the Bradley Classic on Friday, Oct. 18, beginning at 3 p.m. Another MVC rival, Indiana State, is set to host the NCAA Pre-Nationals on Saturday, Oct. 19, starting at 10 a.m.
The following weekend, the 'Birds will travel to Carmel, Indiana for the Bulldog Invite with the first race beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25.
After finishing second on the men's side and third on the women's side at last year's Missouri Valley Conference Championship, Illinois State is looking to stay competitive in the hunt for another MVC title. The MVC Cross Country Championship is hosted by recent MVC addition, Valparaiso, in Valparaiso, Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m.
"Valpo will host this year for the first time, being a relatively new Valley member, they've never been able to host so nobody has seen that course," Bovee said. "It'll be something that we're all going to have to preview the day before to find out what that course looks like."
Following the Valley Championships, ISU travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma for the NCAA Midwest Regional, which is their first meet that is in a state that doesn't border Illinois. The NCAA Midwest Regional is set for Friday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.
Should Illinois State qualify as a team or have Redbirds qualify individually, the NCAA Cross Country Championships are slated for Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. in Terra Haute, Indiana.
"At the end of the day, our goal is to compete for Valley Championships and to finish top-10 in the regional when we get to the post-season," Bovee said.
Fans can find the complete 2019 schedule here.
For all the latest on Redbird track & field and cross country, visit goredbirds.com and follow the 'Birds on Twitter (@redbird_trackxc), Instagram (@redbird_trackxc) and Facebook (@redbirdsTF).
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