MIAMI ( August 6, 2018) - The FIU men's and women's cross country programs will compete in four regular season meets preceding the Conference USA Championships, to be held Oct. 27 in Boca Raton.
 
The Panthers will travel to four meets throughout the state of Florida, including opening the season at the FAU Collegiate Cross Country Invitational for the fourth consecutive year at South County Regional Park, which will serve as the host for the conference championships.
 
"We like to try and start the season there with a few of our athletes, but this year, we'll have everyone go and get accustomed to the course," FIU Head Coach Ryan Heberling said.  "You never know what conditions you'll have come conference, but we know the meet will most likely be hot. It's important that we know the course and what to expect."
 
Following a bye week after the season opener, FIU will travel to Orlando to compete in the UCF Alumni XC Invitational on Sept. 15, followed by an appearance at the Mountain Dew Gator Cross Country Invitational Sept. 22 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
 
The FIU women had one of their best performances of the season last year in Gainesville, finishing second among thirty-two teams at the meet. Sherilene Gelderblom led the Panthers with a second place finish, running a time of 17:21.
 
"Coach Felix has done an amazing job of building a team," said Heberling, as Jermaine Felix gets set to begin his fourth year working with the distance program. "If our team is fresh for that meet, then we'll go fast, or if it's during a period to train through it, we'll train through it. At the end of the day it's just one meet on the way to the ultimate team goal which is to win conference, compete at Regionals, and advance to Nationals."  
 
The Panthers will round out the regular season on Oct. 12, traveling to Tampa to compete in the USF Cross Country Invitational at 'The Claw' golf course.
 
The 2018 Conference USA Championships will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton, with start times at 9 & 10 AM. Last season, Gelderblom earned First-Team All Conference USA honors following a sixth place finish in 17:22.
 
Following the conference meet, the Panthers will look to peak at the NCAA South Regional meet, hosted by Florida State this year on Friday, Nov. 9.

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