Men's Cross Country | 9/28/2018 1:18:00 PM

Meet Info

FAIRFAX, Va. – After a water-logged month, the George Mason men's and women's cross country teams will be back in action – and on a familiar course.

The Patriots host the Mason Invitational on Saturday at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg. The women's 6K begins at 10 a.m., with the men's 8K to follow at 10:45 a.m.

Mason last raced four weeks ago at the Spider Alumni Open in Mechanicsville, Va. The Winthrop adidas Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C., scheduled for Sept. 15 was postponed due to Hurricane Florence.

With only seven runners on each team having competed at the season's lone meet in Mechanicsville, the Patriots look forward to having more than 20 runners in uniform and several more competing attached.

"Everybody is going to be out there so we're going to be able to see where we are – finally," head coach Andrew Gerard said. "Practices have gone really well the last month since we raced. We've had some really good training sessions. But, one of the key things, is obviously getting to know each other's style, racing style, tendencies – go out a little had, not go out as hard, whatever it is. We just haven't had that kind of exposure yet. So we're still really going to learn each other racing-wise at this one."

The field includes Hampton, Howard, Longwood, Mary Washington, Norfolk State and VMI on the men's and women's sides. Northern Virginia Community College will field a women's team only.

Due to the heavy rain in the area the last few weeks, the course will have different look than in past years. Neither the men's or women's race will cross the creek on the property or run up the tough, signature hill. The women will run two 3K loops, while the men will also run both loops, plus a 2K circuit.

Unlike last year when the Patriots hosted the Atlantic 10 Championships, this will be the only time the squads race on their home course this fall. 

"It is nice to be in front of the hometown crowd. It is a beautiful venue," Gerard said. "Our people do a great job putting it on – (events staff) Stacy (Natoli), Jay (Marsh) and Keith (Morrisroe). The whole crew there; they do a great job of hosting. Our home course is pretty unique but it has a definite style than a lot of the courses we've run. I think a lot of people really appreciate Oatlands because it is real, true cross country. You're running through the woods, you're running across creeks, you're running up the hills – maybe not this weekend – but I think people definitely like this meet because it is a little different than some of the other races we run all year."