Aug. 26, 2008

Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa cross country teams begin the 2008 season when they host the Hurricane Festival at Mohawk Park on Saturday, August 30.

The collegiate portion of the event starts with the men's four-mile race at 8:00 a.m., followed by the women's two-mile race at 8:35 a.m. Teams from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Oral Roberts are scheduled to participate.

"This is really just an icebreaker to get the season rolling," said Head Coach Steve Gulley. "We basically want to get an early look at the kids and see how well they trained during the summer. It's an opportunity for us to test the waters."

The Golden Hurricane men's team returns five all-conference performers from last year's team that earned its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Junior Eric Harris, who earned third-team all-C-USA honors in 2007, was Tulsa's top-finisher at last year's Hurricane Festival placing fifth with a time of 19:51.

The women's team returns two all-C-USA performers, including second-team member Lana Kelley who placed fifth at last year's Hurricane Festival running the two-mile course in 11:28. Sophomore Maryke Rossouw finished sixth at last year's festival just seconds behind Kelley with a time of 11:30.

Local high schools will also take part in the event and will begin racing at 9:10 a.m. with freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors all running in separate events. The middle schools will compete at 10:30 a.m.