INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP cross country programs will host the "Welcome Back" Mini-Invitational Sunday, February 21 at Blue Spruce Park. This will be IUP's first home meet in 12 seasons, the last one being the Crimson Hawk Invitational in September 2009.

This will be the first meet of the delayed and shortened 2020-21 season for the Crimson Hawks after all sports in the fall semester were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IUP has three meets scheduled this spring, including the 2020-21 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships in late March. 

Course Map

No spectators
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, current state guidelines and other related health factors, the IUP Athletic Department has announced that there will be no public attendance for the home IUP "Welcome Back" Mini-Invitational. Thank you for your understanding.

Teams Competing

IUP (M/W)

Alderson Broaddus (M/W)

Gannon (M/W)

Seton Hill (M/W)

Shepherd (M/W)

Notes

• Both programs have had a lot of turnover and several fresh faces since the end of the 2019 season. The men's program lost five runners from last year but brought in 12 newcomers, including 11 true freshmen, to build out a roster of 17 for this season. The women lost six runners from a year ago but welcome in a freshman class of five to round out a 13-member squad.
• Leading the charge for the men is two-time All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC runner Sam Lenze. Lenze earned an individual bid to compete in the 2019 NCAA Division II Championships during his junior season after finished sixth overall at the regional championships in Lock Haven.
• The women return sophomore Paige Wess who earned all-region honors with a 17th place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships in the fall of 2019. She was the team's top finisher in all six meets she competed in as a freshman, including a 10th place overall finish at the Bethany Bison Invitational, her collegiate debut. 

Up next

The Crimson Hawks will compete in the Cal U Invitational on Saturday, March 6.