FAIRFAX, Va. – After two weeks of training the men's and women's cross country teams take the course on Friday, October 18 when they travel to Boone, N.C. for the Blue Ridge Open, hosted by Appalachian State University.

Racing begins at 3 p.m. with the Women's Gold 5k race followed by the Men's Gold 8k at 3:45 p.m. The women's open 5k event starts at 4:30p.m. and the men's open 8k shortly after at 5 p.m. The races for Mason this weekend will be their last before Atlantic 10 Championships on November 2 at Pole Green Park, a course the Patriots previously competed on earlier in the season.

Mason is coming off first place team finishes for the men and women at the 2013 Mason Invitational, including individual first place collegiate finishes by Wil McReynolds (27:19.8, 8k) and Bethany Sachtleben (22:35.4, 6k).

More information about the Blue Ridge Open can be found here.