(August 5, 2008)--The Baylor cross country team’s 2008 fall schedule includes 10 meets, highlighted by hosting the NCAA Regional meet, head coach Todd Harbour announced on Tuesday.

“We are very excited about our 2008 cross country seasons,” said Harbour. “We are looking forward to hosting the NCAA Regional meet again this year. We have had some good success as the regional host over the past few years.”

The Bears open the season with the Bear Twilight Invitational and will also host the Baylor High School Invitational. The men’s team will make a return trip to the Stanford Invitational, while the women’s team will compete in the Paul Short Invitational.

“Our men’s team had a good showing at Stanford last year and we know that there will be some good competition for them again this year,” said Harbour. “Our women’s team will really be tested at the Paul Short Invitational against some of the elite teams in the country.”

A key weekend for Baylor will come on October 18 as the Bears are scheduled to compete at the Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. and the Pre-National meet in Terre Haute, Ind.

“Going to the Pre-National meet last year really helped our women’s team get ready for NCAAs,” said Harbour. “We will get a chance to run on the same course as NCs and will face some good competition.”

The Bears will travel to Ames, Iowa for the Big 12 Championships before returning to Waco for the NCAA Regional meet on Nov. 15. This will mark the fifth time in the last six years that Baylor has hosted the regional meet. The Bears hosted the NCAA South Central Regional meet at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course from 2003-2006.

The NCAA Championships will once again be hosted by Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. The Baylor women’s team will be looking to earn its sixth-straight berth to the NCAA Championship meet, while the men’s team will look for its first team berth since 1994.