WILMINGTON, North
Carolina - Highlighted by a pair of home races, including the 2010 Colonial
Athletic Association Championships, UNCW head track and field and cross country
coach Jim Sprecher has released the schedule for the upcoming season.
The Seahawks will host the championship for the third time,
most recently in 2005. UNCW also hosted in 1999.
UNCW opens the seven-meet schedule on September 10, when it
hosts its annual adidas Seahawk Invitational. The Seahawks swept the 2009
edition of the meet.
The Seahawks open a four-meet road swing which will carry
them through the rest of the season until the final weekend of October for the
CAA championship. The Seahawks head to Conway, S.C., on Sept. 17, for the
Coastal Carolina Invitational before trekking to Manassas, Va., for the Mason
Invitational on October 2. Manassas served as host of the 2008 CAA
championship.
UNCW will continue its preparations for the CAA championship
when it competes in the Blue Ridge Mountain Open. The men will run an 8K course
for the second time while the women attack a 5K layout.
In its final test before the championships, UNCW will run in
the Mount Olive Invitational on Oct. 22.
On Oct. 30, a total of 18 cross country squads, 10 on the
women's side and eight on the men's, will visit the Port City for the CAA
Championships. William & Mary will look to defend their running titles as
the men have captured the last 10 meets and the women the last seven.
"We're excited to be hosting the championship for a third
time," said UNCW distance coach Layne Schwier. "The course will be a 2K loop,
similar to what the NCAA and World championships use. The course will be a very
spectator-friendly venue."