Clayton News Daily

From Staff Reports

Clayton State head men's and women's cross country coach Mike Mead released the Lakers' 2011 cross country schedule on Thursday. Five regular season meets make up this season's schedule, followed three postseason meets in October and November.

The first two meets will be separate for the two Clayton State teams.

The Laker men will compete in the Struts Season Opener at Jacksonville State on Sept. 2, while the Laker women will open its season on Sept. 10 in the Georgia Southwestern Remembrance run at Georgia Southwestern.

The first combined meet for Clayton State will be the Georgia State Invitational, which will be on Sept. 17 at nearNash Farms in Hampton. That's followed the arguably the highlight meet of the regular season when both Laker teams will compete in the prestigious Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic on Oct. 1. Last season, that meet drew approximately 40 teams, ranging from Division I to NAIA.

Clayton State concludes the regular season portion of the schedule with a return to Jacksonville State on Oct. 8 for the Foothills Invitational. The Peach Belt Conference championship will be at USC Aiken on Oct. 22, followed the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional in Charlotte on Nov. 5. The 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships are set for Nov. 19 in Spokane, Wash.